Terms of Service

1Definitions

For purposes of these Terms:

• “Client” means an individual or organization purchasing or receiving Services, whether directly or through a Firm.
• “Firm” means a law firm, lawyer, immigration professional, business, agency, consultant, or other professional or commercial User using Consular for itself or on behalf of Clients.
• “Fulfillment Provider” means an independent person or entity involved in fulfilling an Order, including translators, notaries, document retrievers, fingerprinting providers, apostille or authentication processors, attorneys, couriers, shipping providers, records custodians, laboratories, government-facing agents, and other third-party service providers.
• “Government Authority” means any government agency, court, clerk, secretary of state, federal authority, embassy, consulate, ministry, immigration authority, records office, educational institution, licensing body, or other receiving or issuing authority.
• “Order” means a request for Services submitted or accepted through Consular.
• “Consular-Sourced Provider” means any Fulfillment Provider whose identity, services, availability, pricing, contact information, work product, or relationship becomes known to a User through Consular or in connection with an Order, except to the extent the User can demonstrate a material pre-existing commercial relationship with that provider before the introduction through Consular.
• “Work Product” means documents, translations, certifications, notarizations, reports, filings, applications, forms, records, labels, written materials, or other deliverables produced in connection with an Order.

2What Consular Does

Consular provides technology, document ordering, procurement, coordination, workflow management, payment processing, tracking, communications, administrative support, provider sourcing, and related services designed to help Users obtain and manage document-related services.

An Order may involve Consular personnel, independent Fulfillment Providers, Government Authorities, carriers, technology providers, and other third parties.

Consular may determine or recommend a processing route based on facts supplied by the User, documents reviewed, known requirements, provider capabilities, and information reasonably available at the time. Consular may select, assign, replace, coordinate, or communicate with Fulfillment Providers as reasonably necessary to fulfill an Order.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, Consular does not itself act as the Government Authority responsible for issuing, authenticating, apostilling, legalizing, approving, accepting, or rejecting a document.

3Consular Is Not a Law Firm

Consular is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice merely by providing the Platform, coordinating an Order, identifying document requirements, describing common processing routes, or facilitating access to legal professionals.

Information available through Consular is provided for administrative, informational, and operational purposes and is not a substitute for advice from a qualified attorney regarding a User's specific legal circumstances.

Where legal services are offered through a licensed attorney or law firm, the attorney or law firm remains responsible for its professional services and may require a separate engagement agreement.

No attorney-client relationship is created between a User and Consular solely through use of the Platform or Services.

4Eligibility and Authority

You may use Consular only if you are legally capable of entering into a binding agreement.

If you submit documents, personal information, or instructions concerning another person, you represent and warrant that you have all permissions and authority reasonably necessary to do so.

If you use Consular on behalf of a Firm or Client, you are responsible for ensuring that you have authority to place Orders, transmit information, approve Work Product, incur charges, and provide instructions on that party's behalf.

5Accounts and Authorized Users

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your login credentials and for activity occurring through your account.

Firms are responsible for managing their authorized users, promptly removing access for individuals who should no longer have access, and ensuring that their personnel comply with these Terms.

You must promptly notify Consular of suspected unauthorized access or account compromise.

Consular may impose account limits, require identity or business verification, or require additional information where reasonably necessary for security, compliance, fraud prevention, or fulfillment.

6Orders Are Based on Facts, Not Merely User Requests

Document services frequently depend on the document type, issuing authority, date of issuance, signatures, destination, receiving authority, intended use, nationality or residency circumstances, and other facts.

A User's request for a particular service — for example, an “apostille,” “certified translation,” “notarization,” or “background check” — does not constitute confirmation by Consular that the requested service is the correct or complete processing route.

Consular may request information or copies of documents before accepting, pricing, routing, or completing an Order.

Consular may recommend, modify, pause, reroute, decline, or require changes to an Order if information obtained during review indicates that another process, additional service, different document, or additional information may be required.

A material change to the destination, receiving authority, purpose, document, requested deadline, or other facts may require a new Order or additional charges.

7User Information and Instructions

Users are responsible for providing complete and accurate information, including where applicable:

• the intended destination country or jurisdiction;
• the receiving authority or institution;
• the purpose for which the document will be used;
• applicable deadlines;
• whether the User already possesses the document;
• document issue dates and issuing authorities;
• known rejection notices or special instructions; and
• accurate names, dates, identification information, addresses, and other requested data.

Consular may rely on information provided by the User.

Consular is not responsible for delays, additional costs, rejection, or other consequences caused by inaccurate, incomplete, outdated, misleading, or omitted information supplied by a User or another person acting on the User's behalf.

8Estimates, Processing Times, and Deadlines

Unless expressly labeled in writing as a guaranteed processing time, all turnaround times, completion dates, delivery dates, and processing estimates are estimates only.

A processing period does not begin until Consular has received all items reasonably required to begin work, which may include payment, usable documents, originals, signatures, fingerprints, authorizations, information, approvals, or other materials.

Processing periods may pause while Consular or a Fulfillment Provider is waiting for information, documents, payment, approval, corrections, or instructions from a User or third party.

Business-day estimates exclude applicable weekends, holidays, Government Authority closures, and other non-processing days.

Consular does not guarantee the processing speed of Government Authorities, receiving institutions, couriers, postal services, consulates, embassies, records offices, or other third parties.

9Government and Receiving-Authority Decisions

Government Authorities and receiving institutions retain sole discretion over their own requirements and decisions.

Consular cannot guarantee:

• issuance of any record or document;
• acceptance of a document, copy, translation, notarization, apostille, authentication, legalization, or certification;
• approval of any visa, immigration application, license, filing, adoption, employment process, educational process, business process, or other underlying matter;
• fingerprint acceptance or background-check issuance;
• appointment availability;
• government or institutional processing times; or
• that requirements will remain unchanged after an Order is placed.

Requirements may differ between authorities and may change without notice.

A rejection, request for additional evidence, change in requirements, or refusal by a Government Authority or receiving institution does not by itself establish that Consular or a Fulfillment Provider performed the ordered Services incorrectly.

10Fulfillment Providers

Consular may use independent Fulfillment Providers to perform portions of an Order.

Fulfillment Providers are responsible for the professional standards, licensing, certifications, representations, accuracy, and legality applicable to the services and Work Product they personally provide.

Consular may source, vet, select, coordinate, instruct, monitor, communicate with, replace, or facilitate payment to Fulfillment Providers, but Consular does not control every professional judgment, certification, translation choice, notarization, courier action, legal opinion, government interaction, or other independent act of a Fulfillment Provider.

Consular may attempt to correct or remediate provider errors where commercially reasonable, but no provision of these Terms makes Consular the guarantor of every independent provider's conduct.

11Provider Network Confidentiality

The Consular provider network is a material business asset.

Fulfillment Provider identities, direct contact information, rates, pricing arrangements, availability, capabilities, assignments, operational methods, sourcing information, and other non-public provider information may constitute confidential and proprietary information of Consular.

Consular may limit or withhold direct provider contact information when disclosure is not reasonably necessary to fulfill an Order.

The appearance of a provider's name or other identifying information on Work Product does not waive Consular's rights under these Terms.

12Anti-Circumvention

Users may not use Consular to identify, access, evaluate, or establish a relationship with a Consular-Sourced Provider and then bypass Consular to obtain substantially related services outside the Platform.

Except with Consular's prior written authorization, during the User's relationship with Consular and for twenty-four (24) months after the User's most recent Order involving or exposing the User to the applicable Consular-Sourced Provider, the User may not directly or indirectly:

1. solicit, hire, engage, contract with, or purchase services from that Consular-Sourced Provider outside Consular for services of the type made available through Consular;
2. pay or arrange payment to that provider outside Consular for such services;
3. request, encourage, or assist the provider in moving an Order or commercial relationship outside Consular;
4. provide the provider's information to a Client, affiliate, employee, contractor, related company, agent, intermediary, or other third party for the purpose of bypassing Consular;
5. direct a Client or other person to transact directly with the provider in order to avoid Consular fees, processes, or controls; or
6. use another person or entity to accomplish conduct that would violate this Section if performed directly.

This restriction does not apply to a relationship that the User can demonstrate was materially established with the provider before the provider was introduced or made known through Consular.

A provider remains a Consular-Sourced Provider even if the User later obtains the provider's contact information from a public source, the provider contacts the User directly, the provider's identity appears on Work Product, the parties meet independently, or the User conducts the transaction through an affiliate, Client, employee, contractor, intermediary, or related entity.

Nothing in this Section prevents communications with a Fulfillment Provider that Consular authorizes or that are reasonably necessary to complete an Order through Consular.

13Off-Platform Transactions and Side Deals

Unless Consular provides written authorization otherwise, all commercial arrangements relating to a Consular Order or Consular-Sourced Provider must be handled through Consular, including:

• Orders and additional services;
• upgrades or modifications;
• payments;
• discounts;
• credits;
• refunds; and
• future substantially related fulfillment engagements covered by Section 12.

Users may not request or accept an undisclosed side payment, rebate, referral payment, commission, or other financial arrangement from a Fulfillment Provider in connection with Consular Services.

Consular is not responsible for off-platform transactions or arrangements entered into in violation of these Terms.

14Remedies for Circumvention

Circumvention causes harm that may include lost revenue, loss of provider-network value, investigation costs, and disruption of commercial relationships.

If a User violates Sections 11 through 13, Consular may, subject to applicable law:

• suspend or terminate the User's account;
• cancel or decline pending Orders;
• revoke access to provider or pricing information;
• recover unpaid fees and the fees Consular reasonably would have earned from prohibited transactions;
• seek injunctive or equitable relief where available; and
• recover other damages and reasonable enforcement costs to the extent permitted by law.

Any liquidated-damages provision applicable to a particular User or enterprise relationship must be expressly stated in a separate written agreement or Order Form.

15Intellectual Property and Protection of the Consular System

Consular and its licensors own all rights in the Platform and Consular's proprietary materials, including software, interfaces, workflows, service taxonomy, routing logic, databases, provider-network information, templates, documentation, operational methods, non-public pricing structures, service configurations, branding, designs, and compilations.

Except as expressly permitted by Consular, Users may not:

• copy, reproduce, republish, sell, license, or commercialize Consular proprietary materials;
• reverse engineer, decompile, disassemble, probe, or attempt to derive source code or non-public system logic;
• systematically scrape, harvest, extract, or compile Platform data;
• use Consular's non-public workflows, provider information, routing logic, pricing structures, service configurations, templates, or operational information to create, train, improve, or operate a competing product, marketplace, database, workflow, or service;
• circumvent technical, contractual, or operational controls designed to protect the Platform or provider network;
• frame, mirror, clone, or reproduce material portions of the Platform; or
• use Consular's trademarks, trade dress, branding, or confusingly similar identifiers without permission.

Nothing in these Terms prevents a User from using general knowledge, skills, publicly available information, or information independently developed without use of Consular's confidential or proprietary information.

16User Documents and License to Fulfill Orders

As between the User and Consular, the User retains any ownership rights the User has in documents and materials uploaded to Consular.

The User grants Consular a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to access, reproduce, transmit, convert, format, store, disclose, and otherwise use those materials to the extent reasonably necessary to operate the Platform, fulfill Orders, provide support, prevent fraud, comply with law, enforce these Terms, and perform related Services.

This license includes permission to transmit necessary information and documents to Fulfillment Providers, Government Authorities, carriers, technology providers, and other parties involved in fulfillment.

17Work Product, Review, and Approval

Users are responsible for reviewing Work Product when review is reasonably possible before submission or final use.

Users should promptly verify material information such as names, dates, numbers, spellings, addresses, document identifiers, and other factual information.

If Consular requests approval, the User's approval authorizes Consular to continue processing based on the approved Work Product.

Consular may establish a reasonable correction period for particular Services. Failure to identify an apparent error during an available review period may limit Consular's ability to correct the issue without additional cost or delay.

18Corrections, User Changes, and Changed Requirements

Where Work Product contains a material error attributable to Consular or a Fulfillment Provider, Consular may, as appropriate, arrange a correction or re-performance of the affected Service.

Additional fees may apply where additional work results from:

• inaccurate or incomplete information supplied by a User;
• a User changing instructions, destination, purpose, or receiving authority;
• replacement or updated source documents;
• a Government Authority or receiving institution changing or clarifying requirements;
• expiration of a document or certification;
• a User missing a deadline or failing to respond; or
• circumstances outside Consular's reasonable control.

Correction or re-performance is not a guarantee of acceptance by a Government Authority or receiving institution.

19Pricing, Quotes, and Additional Charges

Prices displayed or quoted are based on information available at the time of the quote.

Additional charges may be required if document review reveals a different processing route, additional pages, additional certifications, government fees, courier fees, retrieval costs, unusual complexity, additional documents, expedited handling, or other requirements not included in the original scope.

Consular will seek authorization before incurring material additional charges unless the User has previously authorized variable charges or an applicable Firm arrangement provides otherwise.

Taxes, government fees, carrier charges, and third-party fees may be separately stated or incorporated into pricing depending on the Service.

20Payments

Users agree to pay all charges authorized through their account or otherwise approved in connection with an Order.

Consular may use third-party payment processors. Use of those payment methods may also be subject to the payment provider's terms.

Consular may require full or partial payment before beginning or continuing work.

For approved Firms, Consular may offer invoicing or payment terms. Failure to pay an invoice when due may result in suspension of Orders, account access, credit terms, or Services.

21Refunds and Cancellations

Because many Services involve immediate administrative work, provider assignment, document review, procurement, government fees, or third-party costs, Orders may become partially or fully non-refundable after work begins.

Unless Service-Specific Terms or an Order Form state otherwise:

1. before substantive work begins, Consular may permit cancellation and refund amounts not already earned or committed;
2. after document review, provider assignment, procurement, preparation, or other fulfillment begins, fees attributable to work performed or costs incurred may be non-refundable;
3. government fees, filing fees, courier charges, provider charges, retrieval fees, and other nonrecoverable third-party costs are non-refundable once incurred;
4. completed Services are generally non-refundable except where Consular determines that a qualifying error requires correction, re-performance, credit, or refund; and
5. rejection or non-acceptance by a Government Authority or receiving institution does not automatically entitle a User to a refund when the ordered Service was properly performed.

Any Service-Specific refund guarantee expressly offered by Consular controls over this Section for that Service.

22Chargebacks and Payment Disputes

If a User believes a charge is incorrect or a Service was not properly performed, the User should contact Consular promptly so Consular has an opportunity to investigate and resolve the issue.

Nothing in these Terms eliminates rights a consumer may have under applicable payment-card or consumer-protection law.

However, initiating a chargeback does not extinguish a valid payment obligation for Services properly provided. Consular may provide transaction records, acceptance records, communications, tracking information, Work Product, and other relevant evidence to a payment processor or financial institution in response to a payment dispute.

Consular may suspend unpaid or disputed Orders while a payment dispute is pending where permitted by law.

23Firm, Lawyer, and Professional Accounts

A Firm using Consular remains responsible for its own professional relationship with its Clients.

Each Firm is solely responsible for:

• legal advice and professional judgment it provides;
• conflicts checks;
• professional licensing and ethical obligations;
• attorney-client communications;
• legal deadlines for which the Firm is responsible;
• trust-account or client-fund obligations;
• representations made to Clients;
• fees the Firm independently charges Clients; and
• compliance with laws and professional-conduct rules applicable to the Firm.

Consular's administrative or document workflow does not transfer a Firm's professional obligations to Consular.

A Firm may not make warranties, processing guarantees, representations, or commitments on behalf of Consular unless Consular has expressly authorized them in writing.

24Pass-Through, Referral, and White-Label Use

Consular may permit Firms to use Services through different commercial models, including pass-through, referral, and white-label arrangements.

The applicable Order Form, Firm agreement, or Platform configuration may establish which party invoices the Client, communicates with the Client, sets retail pricing, or appears as the service-facing brand.

Unless Consular expressly agrees otherwise in writing, a Firm that independently sets or represents a retail price to its Client is responsible for its own pricing representations, invoices, taxes, client-facing commitments, and professional obligations.

White-label access does not transfer ownership of the Consular Platform, provider network, workflows, or intellectual property to the Firm and does not waive the anti-circumvention provisions of these Terms.

25No Legal Fee-Sharing or Referral Arrangement Unless Expressly Agreed

Unless expressly permitted by applicable law and separately agreed in writing, amounts paid to Consular are compensation for technology, administrative, procurement, document, fulfillment, coordination, marketplace, or related Services and are not intended as payment for legal referrals or as a division of legal fees.

Each legal professional is responsible for determining whether its use of Consular complies with the professional-conduct rules applicable to that professional.

26Communications

Users authorize Consular to communicate regarding accounts and Orders through methods provided by the User or enabled through the Platform, which may include email, SMS, WhatsApp, in-platform messages, telephone, or other supported channels.

Transactional communications may include requests for documents, status updates, payment notices, security messages, approvals, shipping information, and fulfillment communications.

Users are responsible for monitoring the communication channels associated with their Orders and responding within timeframes reasonably necessary to avoid delay.

Marketing communications will be handled in accordance with applicable law and available opt-out rights.

27Document Storage and Retention

Consular is not a permanent records-storage service.

Consular may retain documents and Order information for periods established in its Privacy Policy, Service-Specific Terms, operational policies, legal requirements, or Firm agreements.

Consular may delete documents after the applicable retention period and does not guarantee indefinite availability of uploaded or completed documents.

Users should maintain their own copies of documents they are legally or operationally required to retain.

28Privacy and Data Processing

Consular's collection and use of personal information is governed by the Consular Privacy Policy and any applicable Data Processing Addendum.

Users acknowledge that fulfilling document-related Services frequently requires transmitting personal information and documents to third parties, potentially including parties located in other countries.

By placing an Order, the User authorizes Consular to make disclosures reasonably necessary to fulfill that Order, subject to applicable law and Consular's Privacy Policy.

29Acceptable Use

Users may not use Consular to:

• violate any law or regulation;
• submit forged, fraudulent, stolen, unlawfully obtained, or materially altered documents;
• impersonate another person without authority;
• facilitate fraud, deception, sanctions evasion, money laundering, or unlawful activity;
• harass, threaten, intimidate, or abuse Consular personnel, providers, or other Users;
• compromise Platform security;
• introduce malware or malicious code;
• conduct unauthorized penetration testing or vulnerability scanning;
• scrape or systematically extract Platform or provider data;
• interfere with Platform operation;
• evade account restrictions or payment obligations; or
• use Consular in a manner that creates unreasonable legal, security, safety, regulatory, or reputational risk.

Consular may investigate suspected violations and cooperate with lawful requests from authorities.

30Suspension, Refusal, and Termination

Consular may suspend or terminate account access, decline an Order, pause fulfillment, or discontinue Services where reasonably necessary because of:

• nonpayment;
• fraud or suspected fraud;
• chargeback abuse;
• threats, harassment, or abusive conduct;
• circumvention or attempted circumvention;
• provider solicitation;
• misuse of confidential information;
• unlawful activity;
• security concerns;
• sanctions or compliance concerns;
• repeated failure to provide required information;
• material breach of these Terms; or
• legal, regulatory, operational, safety, or reputational risk associated with continuing the relationship.

Where reasonably practicable and legally appropriate, Consular may provide notice and information regarding pending Orders.

Termination does not eliminate payment obligations, confidentiality duties, anti-circumvention obligations, intellectual-property protections, dispute provisions, or other provisions that by their nature should survive termination.

31Third-Party Services

The Platform may interact with or rely on third-party software, payment processors, carriers, communications platforms, identity providers, Government Authority systems, and other services that Consular does not control.

Consular is not responsible for third-party outages, changes, acts, omissions, or terms, except to the extent responsibility cannot lawfully be excluded.

32Service-Specific Terms

Certain Services may be subject to additional terms, disclosures, eligibility requirements, refund rules, guarantees, processing rules, or limitations (“Service-Specific Terms”).

Service-Specific Terms presented in connection with an Order are incorporated into these Terms.

If Service-Specific Terms conflict with these Terms regarding that particular Service, the Service-Specific Terms control to the extent of the conflict.

33Enterprise Agreements and Order Forms

Consular may enter into separate Order Forms, enterprise agreements, provider agreements, statements of work, data-processing agreements, or other written contracts.

If a separately executed written agreement expressly conflicts with these Terms, the separately executed agreement controls to the extent of that conflict.

34Feedback

If you voluntarily provide ideas, suggestions, requests, workflow recommendations, or other feedback concerning Consular, you grant Consular a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free right to use and incorporate that feedback without restriction or compensation, provided Consular does not thereby acquire ownership of your underlying confidential documents or Client data.

35Disclaimers

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE PLATFORM AND SERVICES ARE PROVIDED ON AN “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” BASIS EXCEPT FOR EXPRESS WARRANTIES SPECIFICALLY PROVIDED IN WRITING BY CONSULAR.

CONSULAR DISCLAIMS IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

CONSULAR DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE PLATFORM WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE OR THAT ANY GOVERNMENT AUTHORITY, CONSULATE, EMBASSY, COURT, INSTITUTION, EMPLOYER, LICENSING BODY, OR OTHER RECEIVING PARTY WILL ACCEPT ANY DOCUMENT OR APPROVE ANY UNDERLYING APPLICATION OR PROCESS.

Nothing in these Terms excludes warranties or rights that cannot lawfully be excluded.

36Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, CONSULAR AND ITS AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OR FOR LOST PROFITS, LOST REVENUE, LOST BUSINESS, LOST OPPORTUNITY, LOSS OF GOODWILL, OR SIMILAR DAMAGES ARISING FROM OR RELATING TO THE PLATFORM OR SERVICES.

WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, CONSULAR WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR CONSEQUENTIAL LOSSES ARISING FROM A GOVERNMENT OR THIRD-PARTY DECISION, INCLUDING VISA OR IMMIGRATION CONSEQUENCES, MISSED EMPLOYMENT OR EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, TRAVEL COSTS, BUSINESS LOSSES, OR LOSSES RESULTING FROM A DOCUMENT BEING DELAYED, REJECTED, OR NOT ACCEPTED.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, CONSULAR'S AGGREGATE LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO A PARTICULAR ORDER WILL NOT EXCEED THE GREATER OF US$100 OR THE AMOUNT OF FEES PAID TO CONSULAR FOR THE AFFECTED ORDER.

The limitations in this Section apply regardless of the theory of liability and even if Consular was advised that damages were possible, but they do not apply to liability that cannot legally be limited or excluded.

37Indemnification

To the extent permitted by law, a User acting in a business or professional capacity agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Consular and its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, and agents from third-party claims, damages, liabilities, penalties, judgments, and reasonable costs arising from or relating to:

• the User's violation of these Terms;
• unlawful or unauthorized documents, information, instructions, or activity supplied by the User;
• the User's infringement or violation of another person's rights;
• representations or promises a Firm makes to its Clients without Consular's authorization;
• the Firm's legal or professional services;
• the User's off-platform dealings with a Fulfillment Provider; or
• the User's violation of applicable law.

This Section does not require indemnification for claims caused solely by Consular's own conduct to the extent such indemnification is prohibited by law.

38Force Majeure

Consular is not liable for delay or failure caused by events beyond its reasonable control, including natural disasters, severe weather, war, terrorism, civil unrest, strikes, labor disruptions, government shutdowns, embassy or consulate closures, carrier disruptions, customs delays, epidemics, pandemics, power failures, internet outages, cyber incidents, third-party system outages, Government Authority system failures, regulatory changes, or similar events.

Consular may adjust estimated timelines or processing routes in response to such events.

39Dispute Resolution; Governing Law

These Terms and any dispute arising from them will be governed by the laws of to be confirmed — governing-law jurisdiction, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

Before initiating formal proceedings, the parties agree to make a good-faith attempt to resolve the dispute by providing written notice describing the dispute and requested resolution to the contact information in Section 45 and allowing at least thirty (30) days for informal resolution.

The forum for disputes that are not resolved informally — binding individual arbitration with a class-action waiver and a small-claims exception, or exclusive court venue — is to be confirmed — dispute forum. If court litigation applies, the parties consent to exclusive jurisdiction and venue in the state and federal courts located in to be confirmed — venue county and state, except where applicable law requires otherwise.

Nothing in this Section prevents Consular from seeking temporary or injunctive relief to protect intellectual property, confidential information, Platform security, or its provider network where such relief is legally available.

40Consumer Rights

Nothing in these Terms limits rights that applicable consumer-protection law does not permit a User to waive.

Where a provision of these Terms conflicts with a mandatory consumer right applicable to a particular User, the mandatory law controls only to the extent of the conflict.

41Changes to the Platform or Services

Consular may modify, add, discontinue, or replace Platform features or Services from time to time.

Consular may change provider availability, processing routes, pricing, integrations, or supported jurisdictions without guaranteeing continued availability of any particular feature or provider.

Changes will not retroactively alter an accepted Order except where necessary because of legal requirements, third-party changes, Government Authority requirements, safety or compliance concerns, or with the User's agreement.

42Changes to These Terms

Consular may update these Terms from time to time.

The updated Terms will state the date of the most recent revision. Where required by law or where changes are material, Consular will provide additional notice or request renewed acceptance.

Continued use of the Platform after updated Terms become effective constitutes acceptance to the extent permitted by law.

43Electronic Communications and Signatures

Users consent to conducting transactions electronically and to receiving agreements, disclosures, notices, invoices, and other records electronically where permitted by law.

Clicking an acceptance box, electronically signing, placing an Order after being presented with applicable terms, or using another electronic acceptance mechanism may constitute an electronic signature and agreement to the applicable terms.

Consular may maintain electronic records showing the version of terms accepted, date and time of acceptance, account information, Order information, and other evidence of assent.

44General Provisions

44.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, the Privacy Policy, applicable Service-Specific Terms, and any separately executed agreement constitute the applicable agreement between Consular and the User concerning the Services they govern.

44.2 No Waiver

Failure to enforce a provision does not waive Consular's right to enforce it later.

44.3 Severability

If a provision is found unenforceable, it will be enforced to the maximum extent permitted and the remaining provisions will remain effective.

44.4 Assignment

Users may not assign these Terms without Consular's prior written consent. Consular may assign these Terms in connection with a merger, acquisition, financing, reorganization, sale of assets, corporate restructuring, or transfer of the Consular business, subject to applicable law.

44.5 No Partnership or Agency

Except where expressly agreed in writing, these Terms do not create a partnership, joint venture, franchise, fiduciary relationship, employment relationship, or agency between Consular and a User.

44.6 Headings

Headings are for convenience only and do not affect interpretation.

44.7 Survival

Provisions concerning payments, provider-network protection, anti-circumvention, confidentiality, intellectual property, disclaimers, liability, indemnification, disputes, and other provisions that by their nature should survive will remain effective after termination.

45Contact Information and Legal Notices

Consular is operated by:

Consumer Science LLC, doing business as Consular

Mailing address: to be confirmed — mailing address

Email: to be confirmed — legal email

Website: Consular.io

Legal notices to Consular must be sent to to be confirmed — legal notice email and, where required by an applicable agreement, to the mailing address above.

A.1Client Authority

A Firm represents that it has authority to provide Client information and documents to Consular and to instruct Consular regarding Orders submitted for that Client.

A.2Client Communications

Depending on account configuration, Consular may communicate directly with a Client regarding document collection, payment, approvals, fulfillment, tracking, or other administrative matters.

A Firm is responsible for configuring or instructing Consular regarding client-facing communications where the Platform provides that functionality.

A.3Pricing and Markups

Where Consular permits a Firm to establish a client-facing markup or retail price, the Firm is responsible for determining whether that pricing structure complies with laws and professional rules applicable to the Firm.

Unless otherwise agreed, the difference between Consular's charge to the Firm and the Firm's independent charge to its Client does not create an ownership interest in Consular's provider network or underlying pricing information.

A.4No Unauthorized Commitments

A Firm may not represent that Consular guarantees an outcome, government decision, acceptance, or processing deadline unless the applicable Consular Service expressly includes that guarantee.

A.5Provider Contact

Direct communications between a Firm and a Fulfillment Provider do not create a right to transact with that provider outside Consular and remain subject to Sections 11 through 14.

A.6Client Portals

Where Consular provides a Client portal under a Firm's account, the Firm receives only the rights expressly granted by Consular. Client portals, workflows, software, routing logic, and related technology remain Consular property.

B.1Order Review

An Order may remain subject to review after checkout. Payment does not necessarily mean Consular has confirmed that the User selected the correct processing route.

B.2Missing Information

Consular may place an Order on hold while waiting for documents, information, payment, approval, or clarification.

B.3Physical Documents

Where original or physical documents are required, Users are responsible for sending the correct documents using an appropriate delivery method. Consular may provide shipping options but cannot guarantee carrier performance.

B.4Shipping

Shipping and delivery estimates are separate from processing estimates unless expressly stated otherwise. Risk associated with carriers is subject to applicable law, carrier terms, and any shipping protection expressly purchased or provided.

B.5Government Fees

Government and institutional fees may change without notice. If an authority changes a required fee before submission, the User may be responsible for the difference.

B.6Rejections

If an authority rejects or returns a submission, Consular may review the reason and recommend next steps. Additional government fees, provider costs, shipping charges, or Services may apply unless the rejection resulted from a qualifying Consular or Fulfillment Provider error covered by the applicable Service-Specific Terms.

B.7Abandoned Orders

Consular may treat an Order as abandoned after to be confirmed — abandonment period (days) without a required response from the User. Abandoned Orders may be closed and may require a reactivation or new Order. Fees already earned or costs already incurred remain subject to the refund rules in Section 21.