TERMS OF SERVICE
Last Updated: [Current Date]
PLEASE READ THESE TERMS CAREFULLY BEFORE USING OUR WEBSITE AND SERVICES.
By accessing or using the Canada Business Lawyers website and services, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service (“Terms”). If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use our website or services.
1. CRITICAL DISCLAIMERS
We Are NOT a Law Firm
Canada Business Lawyers is NOT a law firm. We do not:
- Employ lawyers
- Provide legal advice
- Represent clients
- Practice law in any capacity
We are a platform that:
- Provides free legal document templates for informational purposes
- Connects users with independent, qualified lawyers
- Maintains a directory of legal services
No Attorney-Client Relationship
No attorney-client relationship is created between you and Canada Business Lawyers through:
- Using our website
- Downloading templates
- Requesting a consultation
- Communicating with us in any manner
If you proceed with a consultation, any attorney-client relationship formed is solely between you and the independent lawyer you choose to work with.
No Guarantees or Warranties
We provide NO guarantees whatsoever regarding:
- The accuracy, completeness, or currentness of our templates
- The suitability of any template for your specific situation
- The qualifications or performance of lawyers in our network
- The outcome of any legal matter
- The legal validity of any document you create using our templates
USE ALL TEMPLATES AND SERVICES AT YOUR OWN RISK.
2. OUR SERVICES
Canada Business Lawyers provides:
Free Legal Document Templates
- Templates are provided “as-is” for general informational purposes only
- Templates are NOT customized legal advice
- Templates may not be suitable for your jurisdiction or situation
- Templates may become outdated or contain errors
- You are solely responsible for reviewing, modifying, and using templates appropriately
Lawyer Matching Service
- We connect users with independent lawyers from our network
- We do not employ, supervise, or control these lawyers
- We do not guarantee their availability, qualifications, or services
- Each lawyer maintains their own professional standards and fee structures
- Any agreement you make with a lawyer is between you and that lawyer directly
Legal Services Directory
- A searchable database of legal services and practitioners
- Listings are provided for informational purposes only
- We do not endorse or guarantee any listed lawyer or service
3. YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
When Using Templates
You acknowledge and agree that:
- You are solely responsible for determining whether a template is appropriate for your needs
- You should have any template reviewed by a qualified lawyer before use
- We are not responsible for any consequences arising from your use of our templates
- Templates may require significant customization for your situation
- Laws vary by province/territory and change over time
- You use templates entirely at your own risk
When Requesting Consultations
You understand that:
- We forward your information to independent lawyers who may contact you
- These lawyers are not our employees or agents
- We do not control their availability, fees, or services
- You are free to accept or decline any lawyer’s services
- Any fees are negotiated directly between you and the lawyer
- We receive a referral fee if you retain a lawyer from our network
General Conduct
You agree to:
- Use our website and services only for lawful purposes
- Provide accurate information when requested
- Not misuse, interfere with, or attempt to access unauthorized areas of our website
- Not upload harmful content, malware, or spam
- Not violate any applicable laws or regulations
- Not infringe on intellectual property rights
4. NO LIABILITY – COMPREHENSIVE DISCLAIMER
Use at Your Own Risk
THE WEBSITE AND ALL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED “AS IS” AND “AS AVAILABLE” WITHOUT ANY WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED.
We explicitly disclaim all warranties, including but not limited to:
- Merchantability
- Fitness for a particular purpose
- Non-infringement
- Accuracy or reliability
- Uninterrupted or error-free operation
- Freedom from viruses or harmful components
Limitation of Liability
TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, CANADA BUSINESS LAWYERS AND ITS OWNERS, OPERATORS, EMPLOYEES, CONTRACTORS, AND AFFILIATES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR:
- Any direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
- Loss of profits, revenue, data, or business opportunities
- Legal fees or costs
- Damages arising from use or inability to use our services
- Errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in content or templates
- Actions or omissions of third-party lawyers
- Any legal consequences from using our templates or services
- Unauthorized access to your information
- Any other damages or losses of any kind
This applies regardless of the legal theory (contract, tort, negligence, strict liability, or otherwise) and even if we have been advised of the possibility of such damages.
Specific Template Disclaimer
LEGAL DOCUMENT TEMPLATES ARE COMPLEX AND JURISDICTION-SPECIFIC. By downloading and using our templates, you acknowledge:
- Templates may not comply with current laws in your province/territory
- Templates may not address your specific circumstances
- Templates may contain errors or outdated information
- Professional legal review is strongly recommended before use
- We assume NO responsibility for consequences of template use
- You waive any claims against us arising from template use
Lawyer Referral Disclaimer
We do not:
- Verify the current licensing status of lawyers in our network
- Monitor or supervise their work
- Guarantee their competence, availability, or ethics
- Assume responsibility for their actions or advice
- Control their fee structures or billing practices
You are solely responsible for:
- Verifying a lawyer’s credentials and good standing
- Evaluating whether they are suitable for your needs
- Negotiating fees and engagement terms
- Your relationship and communications with any lawyer
5. INDEMNIFICATION
You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Canada Business Lawyers and its owners, operators, employees, contractors, affiliates, and agents from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising from or related to:
- Your use of our website or services
- Your use of any templates
- Your violation of these Terms
- Your violation of any laws or regulations
- Your violation of any third-party rights
- Any consequences arising from your relationship with any lawyer
- Any content you submit or transmit through our services
6. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
Our Content
All content on our website, including templates, text, graphics, logos, images, and software, is owned by Canada Business Lawyers or our licensors and is protected by Canadian and international copyright and intellectual property laws.
Limited License
We grant you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to:
- Access and use our website for personal or business purposes
- Download templates for your own use
- Print or save templates for your records
Restrictions
You may NOT:
- Reproduce, modify, or create derivative works without written permission
- Distribute, sell, or resell our templates commercially
- Remove copyright notices or attribution
- Use our content to create a competing service
- Use automated tools to scrape or download bulk content
- Claim ownership of our content
Template Usage Rights
Downloaded templates may be:
- Modified for your personal or business use
- Used to create documents for your own legal matters
- Shared with your lawyer for review and customization
Downloaded templates may NOT be:
- Resold or redistributed commercially
- Presented as your own original work
- Used to create a competing template service
7. THIRD-PARTY LINKS AND SERVICES
Our website may contain links to third-party websites, services, or resources. We:
- Do not control or endorse third-party content
- Are not responsible for third-party privacy practices
- Assume no liability for third-party services or content
- Recommend reviewing third-party terms and policies
8. PRIVACY
Your use of our services is also governed by 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 information.
9. MODIFICATIONS TO SERVICES AND TERMS
Changes to Services
We reserve the right to:
- Modify, suspend, or discontinue any service at any time
- Change features, functionality, or availability
- Update or remove templates
- Modify our lawyer network
- Make these changes without prior notice
Changes to Terms
We may update these Terms at any time. Changes will be posted on our website with a new “Last Updated” date. Material changes may be communicated via:
- Email notification
- Website banner or notice
- Prominent posting on the website
Your continued use of our services after changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.
10. TERMINATION
Our Rights
We reserve the right to:
- Terminate or suspend your access immediately, without notice or liability
- Remove or refuse any content
- Take any action we deem necessary
Reasons for termination may include (but are not limited to):
- Violation of these Terms
- Fraudulent or unlawful activity
- Abuse of our services
- At our sole discretion, for any reason or no reason
Effect of Termination
Upon termination:
- Your right to use our services immediately ceases
- We may delete your information (subject to legal retention requirements)
- Previously downloaded templates remain subject to usage restrictions
- Sections of these Terms that should survive termination remain in effect
Survival
The following sections survive termination: Disclaimers, Limitation of Liability, Indemnification, Intellectual Property, Governing Law, and Dispute Resolution.
11. GOVERNING LAW AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Governing Law
These Terms are governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada, without regard to conflict of law principles.
Jurisdiction
You agree that any legal action or proceeding related to these Terms or our services shall be brought exclusively in the courts located in Ontario, Canada. You consent to the personal jurisdiction of these courts.
Arbitration (Optional – if you want to include this)
Any dispute arising from these Terms may, at our option, be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the Arbitration Act of Ontario.
Class Action Waiver
To the extent permitted by law, you agree that any dispute will be resolved on an individual basis and not as part of a class action, consolidated action, or representative action.
12. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and Canada Business Lawyers regarding use of our services and supersede all prior agreements.
Severability
If any provision of these Terms is found to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision will be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.
No Waiver
Our failure to enforce any provision of these Terms does not constitute a waiver of that provision or any other provision.
Assignment
You may not assign or transfer these Terms or your rights hereunder. We may assign these Terms without restriction.
Force Majeure
We are not liable for any failure or delay in performance due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control.
Language
These Terms are written in English. Any translations are provided for convenience only. In case of conflict, the English version prevails.
Headings
Section headings are for convenience only and do not affect interpretation.