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Retainer funds are client money that must be kept separate from the attorney’s own funds. Depositing them into a trust account satisfies this separation, providing fiduciary protection and clear, auditable accounting. A trust account is designated specifically for holding client funds, so the money isn’t mixed with the firm’s operating expenses or personal funds, which helps prevent commingling and ensures the funds are available to cover fees and costs as they arise.

Placing retainer funds in the operating account blends client and firm money, which breaches ethical and legal rules and can lead to misappropriation. Petty cash is merely a small cash fund for incidental expenses and is not appropriate for client funds. A receipt is a record of payment, not a place to hold funds. Thus, the funds should be placed in a trust account.