Overview
Payment Plans allow you to split a total amount into instalments that are automatically debited from your client's card. You can choose how the plan runs: a firm-set schedule where you decide the frequency and instalment amounts, or a Flexible schedule where your client decides how much to pay upfront and when to pay the remainder. They are useful when clients need flexible payment terms while your firm benefits from automated scheduling, reminders, retries on failed payments, and reporting.
Payment Plans are created via a Pay Request and work with any card payment. You can also start a payment plan by converting an existing Pay Request into one. See How to convert a Pay Request into a Payment Plan.
Before you start
Your client must have a valid debit or credit card to complete the first instalment. Payment Plans work with card payments only.
How to create a Payment Plan
Go to Pay and click Create Pay Request.
Enter your client's first name, last name, and email address, then click Continue.
Under Payment type, select Payment plan.
Under How should the plan run?, choose Set schedule or Flexible schedule, then follow the matching steps below.
Set schedule
You choose the instalment amount and dates.
Select Set schedule.
Enter the Payment total (the full amount due).
Choose a Payment frequency: Weekly, Fortnightly or Monthly.
Enter the instalment amount and the payment date. For monthly plans these are Monthly instalment and Monthly payment date. The date can be today or a future date.
Review the Plan breakdown. It shows the number of instalments, when the first one is charged, when later payments start and the final payment date.
To use different amounts or dates, select Edit schedule under Need different dates or amounts?:
Custom payment schedule opens with the regular schedule already filled in. Change only what you need.
Change the Due date or Amount of any payment.
Select the bin icon under Actions to remove a payment, or + Add payment to add one.
Check for Schedule matches the plan total before you continue. The payments must add up to the plan total.
Select Use regular schedule to go back to the schedule Legl generated.
Choose the To account and complete any remaining details (references, attachments, internal comments).
Click Create Pay Request.
ℹ️ Important
If the client enters their card details before the scheduled payment date, the payment will be taken immediately and not on the scheduled date.
Flexible schedule
Your client chooses how much to pay now and when the balance is due.
Select Flexible schedule.
Enter the Payment total (the full amount due).
Your client sets the pace: they choose how much to pay today and when to pay the balance. The balance can be deferred for up to 90 days, so your firm may not receive the full amount until then.
Choose the To account and add an Invoice reference or Matter reference if needed (both optional).
Click Create Pay Request.
Send the Pay Request
For either schedule, choose how to send the request to your client:
Select Send email now to send immediately.
Select Schedule email to send on the first payment date.
Select Copy shareable link to share the link directly with your client.
Could not display content
Understanding the Plan breakdown
The Plan breakdown automatically calculates how the total will be split, based on the schedule you chose.
For a plan with a fixed frequency, if the total is £800 and the instalment amount is £150:
5 instalments of £150
1 final instalment of £50
If the total can be divided evenly by the instalment amount, there will be no final one-off instalment. This applies whichever frequency you selected.
For a Flexible schedule plan, the breakdown always shows exactly two instalments: the initial payment your client makes, and the remainder, due on the date your client chooses.
Instalment dates
The first instalment is charged when your client sets up the plan. Later payments start from the payment date you entered.
Weekly plans: subsequent instalments are debited every 7 days from the payment date.
Fortnightly plans: subsequent instalments are debited every 14 days from the payment date.
Monthly plans: subsequent instalments are debited on the same day each month. If the instalment date falls on the 29th, 30th, or 31st, payments in shorter months will be taken on the last day of the month.
If a payment becomes overdue, future instalment dates remain unchanged.
For a Flexible schedule plan, your client chooses the due date for the remainder when they pay, up to 90 days after the initial payment.
After the first instalment is successfully paid, all remaining instalments are debited automatically.
ℹ️ Further guidance
What happens next
The client enters their card details once, when paying the first instalment.
For a plan with a fixed frequency, instalments are automatically debited according to the frequency you chose.
For a Flexible schedule plan, your client sets the pace: they choose how much to pay when they open the payment page, then pick a due date for the remainder. Their card details are saved at checkout, and the remainder is charged automatically on the date they chose. Your client pays at least £5.00 today and leaves at least £5.00 for the second payment.
Both your firm and the client receive email notifications for scheduled, successful, and failed payments.
All Payment Plans and instalments are visible in the Pay dashboard, alongside other payment methods.
Funds are transferred to your nominated bank account in line with Legl's standard transfer schedule.
Important information
You can change the amounts and dates of future instalments on a live Payment Plan. Your client does not need to enter their card details again. See How to manage a Payment Plan.
Card details cannot yet be changed on an existing plan. If your client's card expires, cancel the plan and create a new one.
Payment Plans, including the Flexible schedule, are switched on or off by an Admin in Settings > Pay, under Payment plans.
If the first instalment is not completed, future instalments cannot be taken.
Client payment details are encrypted and securely stored with Legl's payment processing partner, Adyen (PCI Compliant Level 1).