Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

Welcome to Yualande Christopher & Associates ("we," "our," "us," or the "Firm"). These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your access to and use of our website www.chrislawassociates.com (the "Website") and the legal services we provide.

By accessing or using our Website, booking a consultation, or engaging our legal services, you agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy. If you do not agree to these Terms, please do not use our Website or services.

These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you and Yualande Christopher & Associates. We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time, and such modifications will be effective immediately upon posting on the Website. Your continued use of the Website or services after any changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.

2. Use of Website

2.1 Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years of age to use our Website or engage our legal services. By using the Website, you represent and warrant that you are at least 18 years old and have the legal capacity to enter into these Terms.

2.2 Permitted Use

You may use our Website for the following purposes:

• Researching our legal services and practice areas
• Booking consultations and appointments
• Submitting inquiries and contact forms
• Accessing legal resources and information
• Making payments for legal services
• Communicating with our attorneys and staff

2.3 Prohibited Activities

You agree NOT to use the Website for any of the following purposes:

• Violating any local, national, or international laws or regulations
• Transmitting any unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, defamatory, or obscene material
• Impersonating any person or entity, or falsely stating or misrepresenting your affiliation with any person or entity
• Interfering with or disrupting the Website or servers or networks connected to the Website
• Attempting to gain unauthorized access to any portion of the Website, other accounts, computer systems, or networks
• Using any automated system (including robots, spiders, or scrapers) to access the Website
• Transmitting any viruses, worms, malware, or other malicious code
• Collecting or storing personal data about other users without their consent
• Using the Website for any commercial purpose without our prior written consent

2.4 Account Security

If you create an account on our client portal, you are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials and for all activities that occur under your account. You agree to notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account or any other security breach.

3. Legal Services

3.1 Scope of Services

Yualande Christopher & Associates provides legal services in the following practice areas:

• Real Property and Land Development
• Corporate and Commercial Law
• Civil and Commercial Litigation
• Family Law
• Probate and Estate Planning

The specific scope of our representation will be defined in a written retainer agreement signed by both you and the Firm.

3.2 Attorney-Client Relationship

IMPORTANT: Use of this Website, submission of an inquiry, or communication with our Firm does NOT create an attorney-client relationship. An attorney-client relationship is only established when:

• We agree in writing to represent you
• You sign a written retainer agreement
• We confirm acceptance of your matter in writing
• We have conducted a conflicts check and confirmed we can represent you

Until an attorney-client relationship is formally established, any information you provide to us is NOT confidential and is not protected by attorney-client privilege. Do not send confidential or sensitive information until we have confirmed in writing that we are representing you.

3.3 Consultations

We offer initial consultations to discuss your legal needs. Consultation fees (if applicable) will be communicated to you at the time of booking. Consultations do not guarantee that we will accept your matter or that an attorney-client relationship will be established.

By booking a consultation through our Website, you agree to:

• Provide accurate and complete information
• Attend the consultation at the scheduled time or provide reasonable notice of cancellation
• Pay any applicable consultation fees
• Respect our attorneys' and staff members' time and professionalism

3.4 Jurisdictional Limitations

Our attorneys are licensed to practice law in Jamaica. We do not provide legal advice or representation regarding the laws of other jurisdictions unless specifically disclosed and agreed upon in writing.

4. Fees and Payment Terms

4.1 Legal Fees

Our legal fees are based on the nature and complexity of your matter. Fee structures may include:

• Hourly Rates: Charges based on time spent on your matter
• Fixed Fees: Predetermined fee for specific services (e.g., will drafting, incorporation)
• Contingency Fees: Percentage of recovery (where permitted by law and agreed upon in writing)
• Retainer Fees: Advance payment held in trust and applied to future fees

All fee arrangements will be clearly outlined in your retainer agreement. Fees are subject to change with reasonable notice.

4.2 Costs and Disbursements

In addition to legal fees, you are responsible for costs and disbursements incurred on your behalf, including:

• Court filing fees
• Process server fees
• Photocopying and document production costs
• Expert witness fees
• Travel expenses
• Title search fees, property valuation fees
• Stamp duties and registration fees
• Translation services

4.3 Payment Methods

We accept the following payment methods:

• Credit/Debit Cards: Visa and Mastercard (processed securely through Sagicor MPGS)
• Bank Transfer: Direct deposit to our firm account
• Cash: In-person payments at our office
• Cheque: Payable to Yualande Christopher & Associates

Payment Processing: Online payments are processed through Sagicor MPGS (Mastercard Payment Gateway Services). By making a payment, you agree to Sagicor's terms of service and privacy policy. We do not store your complete credit card information.

4.4 Currency

Fees may be quoted and paid in Jamaican Dollars (JMD) or United States Dollars (USD) as agreed upon in your retainer agreement. Currency conversion rates (if applicable) will be determined at the time of payment.

4.5 Payment Terms

• Retainer Deposits: Due upon signing the retainer agreement
• Interim Bills: Payable within 14 days of invoice date
• Final Bills: Payable within 30 days of invoice date
• Consultation Fees: Due at the time of consultation (if applicable)

4.6 Late Payments

Accounts not paid within the specified time period may be subject to:

• Interest charges at the rate of 2% per month (or the maximum rate permitted by law)
• Suspension of legal services until payment is received
• Withdrawal from representation (subject to court approval where required)
• Referral to collection agency or legal action to recover unpaid fees

4.7 Refund Policy

Retainer deposits are held in our trust account and applied to fees and costs as they are incurred. Any unused portion of the retainer will be refunded to you upon conclusion of your matter. Refunds are processed within 30 days of matter closure.

Fixed fees paid for completed services are non-refundable. If you terminate our representation before services are completed, you will receive a refund based on the proportion of work not yet performed, less any costs incurred.

4.8 Disputed Fees

If you dispute any fees or charges, please contact us in writing within 30 days of receiving the invoice. We will work with you in good faith to resolve any billing disputes. You may also have the right to have disputed fees reviewed by the General Legal Council of Jamaica.

5. Intellectual Property Rights

5.1 Website Content

All content on this Website, including text, graphics, logos, images, videos, software, and compilation of content (collectively, "Content"), is the property of Yualande Christopher & Associates or its licensors and is protected by Jamaican and international copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws.

5.2 Limited License

You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable license to access and use the Website and its Content for your personal, non-commercial use only. You may not:

• Copy, modify, distribute, transmit, display, or create derivative works of the Content
• Use the Content for any commercial purpose without our prior written consent
• Remove any copyright, trademark, or other proprietary notices from the Content
• Reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble any software on the Website

5.3 Trademarks

"Yualande Christopher & Associates," our logo, and other marks used on the Website are trademarks of the Firm. You may not use these trademarks without our prior written permission.

5.4 Client Documents

Documents and work product prepared specifically for you as our client remain your property. We retain a copy of all documents for our records in accordance with our document retention policy.

6. User-Generated Content

6.1 Submissions

By submitting any content to our Website (including inquiries, contact forms, consultation requests, testimonials, or comments), you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable, and fully sublicensable right to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, distribute, and display such content throughout the world in any media.

6.2 Representations and Warranties

You represent and warrant that any content you submit:

• Is accurate and truthful
• Does not violate any third-party rights (including copyright, trademark, privacy, or publicity rights)
• Does not contain defamatory, obscene, or otherwise unlawful material
• Does not contain viruses or other harmful code

6.3 No Confidentiality

Information submitted through the Website (except through our secure client portal) is NOT confidential unless an attorney-client relationship has been established. Do not submit confidential information until we have confirmed in writing that we are representing you.

7. Disclaimer of Warranties

THE WEBSITE AND ITS CONTENT ARE PROVIDED ON AN "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, OR ACCURACY.

WE DO NOT WARRANT THAT:

• The Website will be uninterrupted, timely, secure, or error-free
• The results obtained from using the Website will be accurate or reliable
• The quality of any products, services, information, or other material obtained through the Website will meet your expectations
• Any errors in the Website will be corrected

Any material downloaded or otherwise obtained through the use of the Website is accessed at your own discretion and risk, and you will be solely responsible for any damage to your computer system or loss of data that results from the download of any such material.

8. Limitation of Liability

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, YUALANDE CHRISTOPHER & ASSOCIATES, ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, AND AFFILIATES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO LOSS OF PROFITS, DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, RESULTING FROM:

• Your access to or use of (or inability to access or use) the Website
• Any conduct or content of any third party on the Website
• Any content obtained from the Website
• Unauthorized access, use, or alteration of your transmissions or content

IN NO EVENT SHALL OUR TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL DAMAGES, LOSSES, AND CAUSES OF ACTION EXCEED THE AMOUNT PAID BY YOU, IF ANY, FOR ACCESSING THE WEBSITE OR ONE HUNDRED UNITED STATES DOLLARS (USD $100), WHICHEVER IS GREATER.

SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF CERTAIN WARRANTIES OR LIABILITIES. IN SUCH JURISDICTIONS, OUR LIABILITY WILL BE LIMITED TO THE GREATEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

9. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Yualande Christopher & Associates, its officers, directors, employees, agents, licensors, and suppliers from and against all losses, expenses, damages, and costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, resulting from:

• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any third-party rights, including intellectual property, privacy, or publicity rights
• Your use of the Website in a manner not authorized by these Terms
• Any content you submit to the Website

10. Third-Party Links and Services

Our Website may contain links to third-party websites and services (including government websites, court websites, payment processors, and legal resources). These links are provided for your convenience only.

We do not endorse, control, or assume responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party websites or services. You acknowledge and agree that we shall not be responsible or liable for any damage or loss caused by or in connection with your use of any third-party websites or services.

Payment Processing: Payments made through our Website are processed by Sagicor MPGS (Mastercard Payment Gateway Services), a third-party payment processor. Your use of their services is subject to their terms of service and privacy policy.

11. Privacy

Your use of the Website is subject to our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. Please review our Privacy Policy to understand how we collect, use, and protect your personal information.

12. Termination

12.1 Termination of Website Access

We reserve the right to terminate or suspend your access to the Website immediately, without prior notice or liability, for any reason, including but not limited to:

• Violation of these Terms
• Fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activity
• Provision of false or misleading information
• At our sole discretion for any other reason

12.2 Termination of Legal Representation

Either party may terminate the attorney-client relationship in accordance with the terms of the retainer agreement and applicable professional conduct rules. If you terminate our services, you remain responsible for payment of fees and costs incurred up to the date of termination.

We may withdraw from representation in certain circumstances, including:

• Non-payment of fees
• Conflict of interest
• Client misconduct or failure to cooperate
• Breakdown of the attorney-client relationship

In litigation matters, withdrawal requires court approval. We will provide reasonable notice and assistance with transition to new counsel.

13. Dispute Resolution and Governing Law

13.1 Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Jamaica, without regard to its conflict of law provisions.

13.2 Jurisdiction

Any disputes arising out of or relating to these Terms or your use of the Website shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Jamaica.

13.3 Professional Conduct

Our legal services are governed by the Legal Profession Act of Jamaica and the professional conduct rules established by the General Legal Council of Jamaica.

14. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that these Terms shall otherwise remain in full force and effect.

15. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any retainer agreement you sign, constitute the entire agreement between you and Yualande Christopher & Associates regarding your use of the Website and our services, and supersede all prior agreements and understandings.

16. Changes to These Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be effective immediately upon posting to the Website. We will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page.

Your continued use of the Website after any changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms. We encourage you to review these Terms periodically.

17. Contact Information

If you have any questions or concerns about these Terms, please contact us: