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LedesReady › LEDES 1998B validator

LEDES 1998B validator

Find out why an e-billing portal will reject your invoice — before you submit it. Every check runs in your browser; the invoice never leaves your computer.

🔒 Privileged data never leaves your browser✓ Validated before download⏱ Toggl · Clockify · Harvest · Excel🆓 Free, no signup

How it works

  1. Drop your LEDES .txt file exported from Clio, PracticePanther, TimeSolv, QuickBooks or any billing tool.
  2. Read the verdict. Format errors are listed by line and field, with the rule behind each one (header, totals, dates, codes, required fields).
  3. Download a fixed file — wrong totals, duplicate line numbers, timekeeper names and non-ASCII characters are repaired automatically.

Why LedesReady

For solo attorneys and small firms whose insurance or corporate clients require LEDES e-billing — without switching billing software.

Privileged data stays put

Time narratives are attorney work product. LedesReady reads and writes files inside your browser tab — nothing is uploaded, there's no account and no server copy.

From the tools you use

Toggl Track, Clockify and Harvest detailed exports are recognised by their real columns. Any Excel or CSV timesheet works too, with a free template.

Portal-grade validation

All 24 fields, exact header, [] line endings, totals to the cent with exact decimal math, dates in the billing period, UTBMS codes, timekeepers.

Fix rejected files

Drop a LEDES file a portal bounced: totals, line numbers, names and illegal characters are repaired, and everything else is explained by line.

Pre-bill review

Block billing, vague narratives, clerical tasks, internal conferences, off-increment time and long days are flagged before the claims reviewer cuts them.

UTBMS made easy

Codes are read from tags, tasks or the start of a description. Set defaults for uncoded time, pick from the full L/A/E/B lists, and timekeepers are remembered.

FAQ

What does the validator check?

The exact first line and 24-field header, the [] terminator on every line, field counts, YYYYMMDD dates, F/E/IF/IE types, units greater than zero, non-zero unit cost, LINE_ITEM_TOTAL = units × unit cost + adjustment, INVOICE_TOTAL = sum of line totals, consistent invoice fields, billing period, UTBMS task/activity/expense codes, timekeeper ID, name and classification, field lengths and plain-ASCII text.

Is this the same as the portal's own validation?

No validator can promise acceptance by a specific portal (Legal Tracker, Collaborati, Tymetrix, Bottomline and others add client-specific rules). LedesReady checks the LEDES 1998B standard plus the rules portals reject most often, so the obvious rejections are caught before you submit.

Is it really private?

Yes. Your time entries and LEDES files are read and written by JavaScript running in your browser tab; their contents are never sent over the network. There's no account and nothing to connect to your time tracker or billing system.

What is LEDES 1998B?

The pipe-delimited text invoice format most US insurers and corporate legal departments require for e-billing: a fixed first line, a 24-field header and one line per fee or expense, each ending in []. See the field-by-field guide.

Which time trackers are supported?

Toggl Track, Clockify and Harvest detailed reports (CSV or Excel), Harvest expense reports, and any Excel or CSV timesheet with date, timekeeper, hours and rate columns — including our free template.

Will my client's e-billing portal accept it?

LedesReady checks the LEDES 1998B standard and the rules portals reject most often (totals, header, dates, codes, timekeepers, blank rates). Clients can add their own rules in their portal, so always review the client's billing guidelines too.

What's free?

Validating and reviewing any LEDES file, viewing it as a table and exporting it to CSV, and creating or fixing LEDES files with up to 25 line items. Pro removes the limit, puts several matters in one file and adds rate caps.

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