Are there any exceptions to the cash limit?

Yes. A licensee may accept more than $7,500 Canadian cash in connection with the provision of legal services for a client file if the cash is received is

• for fees, disbursements, or expenses, provided that any refund out of such receipts is also made in cash;

• to pay a fine, a penalty, or bail;

• from a peace officer, law enforcement agency, or other agent of the Crown acting in an official capacity; or

• from one of the following entities:

  • a public body (click here to see what "public body" includes);

  • an authorized foreign bank within the meaning of Section 2 of the Bank Act (Canada) in respect of its business in Canada or a bank to which the Bank Act (Canada) applies;

  • a cooperative credit society, savings and credit union, or caisse populaire that is regulated by a provincial or territorial Act;

  • an association that is regulated by the Cooperative Credit Associations Act;

  • a financial services cooperative that is regulated by An Act respecting financial services cooperatives (Quebec) or An Act respecting the Mouvement Desjardins (Quebec) and that is not a caisse populaire, a credit union central or a federation of credit unions or caisses populaires that is regulated by a provincial other than Quebec, or territorial Act;

  • a company that is regulated by the Trust and Loan Companies Act (Canada);

  • a trust company or loan company that is regulated by a provincial or territorial Act; or

  • a department or agent of Her Majesty in right of Canada or of a province or territory where the department or agent accepts deposit liabilities in the course of providing financial services to the public.