Terms of Service

1. Agreement to Terms

Welcome to SettleWise. By accessing or using our website, mobile application, or any services provided by SettleWise (collectively, the "Services"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). These Terms constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("User," "you," or "your") and SettleWise ("we," "us," or "our").

Please read these Terms carefully before using our Services. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not access or use our Services.

2. Eligibility and Account Registration

2.1 Age Requirements

You must be at least 13 years of age to use our Services. If you are between 13 and 18 years old (or the age of legal majority in your jurisdiction), you may only use the Services with the consent and supervision of a parent or legal guardian who agrees to be bound by these Terms.

2.2 Account Creation

To access certain features, you must create an account by providing:

• A valid email address
• A unique username
• A secure password
• Optional profile information (display name, bio, location)

2.3 Account Security

You are responsible for:

• Maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials
• All activities that occur under your account
• Notifying us immediately of any unauthorized access or security breach
• Ensuring your password meets security standards (minimum 8 characters)

2.4 Accurate Information

You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to update such information to maintain its accuracy. We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts containing false or misleading information.

3. Use of Services

3.1 License Grant

Subject to your compliance with these Terms, SettleWise grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use our Services for personal, non-commercial purposes.

3.2 Acceptable Use

When using SettleWise, you agree to:

• Use the Services lawfully and in good faith
• Respect the rights and dignity of other users
• Provide constructive and respectful comments
• Not misrepresent your identity or affiliation
• Not use the Services for any illegal or unauthorized purpose
• Comply with all applicable local, state, national, and international laws

3.3 Prohibited Activities

You agree NOT to:

• Harass or Harm: Engage in harassment, bullying, threats, or hate speech
• Spam or Abuse: Post spam, unsolicited advertising, or promotional content
• Impersonate: Impersonate any person or entity, or falsely claim affiliation
• Infringe Rights: Violate intellectual property, privacy, or other rights of others
• Distribute Malware: Upload viruses, malware, or malicious code
• Scrape or Bot: Use automated systems to access or scrape content without permission
• Circumvent Security: Attempt to bypass security measures or access restricted areas
• Interfere with Service: Disrupt servers, networks, or other users' access
• Collect User Data: Harvest or collect user information without consent
• False Information: Deliberately post misleading or fraudulent immigration advice

4. Content and Intellectual Property

4.1 Our Content

All content on SettleWise, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, icons, images, audio clips, digital downloads, data compilations, and software, is the property of SettleWise or its content suppliers and is protected by United States and international copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, and other intellectual property laws.

4.2 Your Content

When you post comments, profile information, or other content ("User Content"), you:

• Retain ownership of your User Content
• Grant SettleWise a worldwide, non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use, display, reproduce, and distribute your User Content on the Services
• Represent that you have the right to post such content
• Represent that your content does not violate third-party rights

4.3 Content Moderation

We reserve the right, but are not obligated, to:

• Monitor, review, or edit User Content
• Remove or refuse to post content that violates these Terms
• Disable comments on posts at our discretion
• Take appropriate legal action against users who violate these Terms

4.4 Copyright Infringement

We respect intellectual property rights. If you believe your work has been copied in a way that constitutes copyright infringement, please provide our Copyright Agent with the following information:

• Identification of the copyrighted work claimed to have been infringed
• Identification of the allegedly infringing material
• Your contact information (email, phone, address)
• A statement of good faith belief that use is not authorized
• A statement of accuracy under penalty of perjury
• Your physical or electronic signature

Copyright Agent: copyright@settlewise.org

5. Third-Party Links and Resources

5.1 External Links

SettleWise contains links to third-party websites, including:

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
• State and local government agencies
• Nonprofit organizations and community groups
• Educational institutions and employers
• Financial institutions and credit bureaus
• Healthcare providers and insurance companies

5.2 No Endorsement

These links are provided for convenience only and do not constitute an endorsement, guarantee, warranty, or recommendation by SettleWise. We are not responsible for:

• The content, accuracy, or opinions expressed on third-party websites
• Privacy practices or terms of service of third-party sites
• Any loss or damage resulting from use of third-party services
• The availability or functionality of external websites

6. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

6.1 Information Disclaimer

You should NOT rely solely on information from SettleWise for:

• Immigration status decisions or applications
• Legal matters or proceedings
• Financial investments or major transactions
• Medical or healthcare decisions
• Employment or housing contracts

Always consult with qualified professionals, including:

• Licensed immigration attorneys for legal advice
• Certified financial advisors for financial planning
• Licensed healthcare providers for medical advice
• Accredited representatives for immigration assistance

6.2 "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" Basis

THE SERVICES 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, or non-infringement
• Warranties regarding accuracy, reliability, or completeness of content
• Warranties regarding uninterrupted or error-free service
• Warranties regarding security or freedom from viruses

6.3 Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, SETTLEWISE AND ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, AND AFFILIATES SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR:

• Any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
• Loss of profits, revenue, data, or use
• Business interruption or loss of opportunity
• Any damages resulting from use or inability to use the Services
• Any damages resulting from reliance on information provided
• Any damages caused by errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in content
• Any damages resulting from unauthorized access to your account
• Any damages arising from third-party content or links

IN NO EVENT SHALL OUR TOTAL LIABILITY EXCEED $100 USD OR THE AMOUNT YOU PAID US IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS, WHICHEVER IS GREATER.

6.4 User Responsibility

You acknowledge and agree that:

• You use the Services at your own risk
• You are solely responsible for decisions made based on information from SettleWise
• You will independently verify all critical information
• You will seek professional advice when appropriate

7. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless SettleWise and its officers, directors, employees, agents, affiliates, and licensors from and against any and all claims, damages, obligations, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising from:

• Your use or misuse of the Services
• Your violation of these Terms
• Your violation of any third-party rights, including intellectual property or privacy rights
• Your User Content or any content you post
• Any false or misleading information you provide
• Your willful misconduct or negligence

This indemnification obligation will survive termination of these Terms and your use of the Services.

8. Account Termination

8.1 Termination by You

You may terminate your account at any time by:

• Contacting us at support@settlewise.org
• Requesting account deletion through your profile settings

Upon termination, your personal data will be deleted in accordance with our Privacy Policy (typically within 90 days).

8.2 Termination by Us

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

• Violation of these Terms
• Fraudulent, abusive, or illegal activity
• Prolonged inactivity (over 2 years)
• Requests by law enforcement or government agencies
• Technical or security concerns
• Discontinuation of the Services

8.3 Effect of Termination

Upon termination:

• Your right to use the Services ceases immediately
• Your account will be disabled
• Your comments may be retained for content integrity but will be anonymized
• Sections of these Terms that by their nature should survive will remain in effect

9. Modifications to Services and Terms

9.1 Service Modifications

We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of the Services at any time, with or without notice, including:

• Adding or removing features
• Changing content or layout
• Implementing new technologies
• Adjusting user limits or quotas

We will not be liable for any modification, suspension, or discontinuance of the Services.

9.2 Terms Modifications

We may revise these Terms at any time by updating this page. When we make material changes:

• We will update the "Last Updated" date at the top
• We will notify you via email or prominent notice on the website
• Changes become effective 30 days after posting (or immediately for legal reasons)

Your continued use of the Services after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms. If you do not agree to the new Terms, you must stop using the Services.

10. Dispute Resolution and Governing Law

10.1 Informal Resolution

Before filing any legal claim, you agree to first contact us at legal@settlewise.org and attempt to resolve the dispute informally for at least 30 days.

10.2 Governing Law

These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of [Your State] and the United States of America, without regard to conflict of law principles.

10.3 Arbitration Agreement

Any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the Services shall be resolved through binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) under its Commercial Arbitration Rules.

Exceptions to Arbitration: Either party may bring a claim in small claims court or seek injunctive relief in court for intellectual property disputes.

10.4 Class Action Waiver

You agree that any dispute resolution proceedings will be conducted only on an individual basis and not in a class, consolidated, or representative action. If this waiver is found unenforceable, the arbitration agreement shall not apply to that claim.

10.5 Venue and Jurisdiction

If arbitration does not apply, you agree that any legal action must be brought in the state or federal courts located in [Your County, State], and you consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of those courts.

11. Miscellaneous Provisions

11.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any other legal notices published by us, constitute the entire agreement between you and SettleWise regarding the Services.

11.2 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect, and the invalid provision shall be modified to reflect the parties' intent as closely as possible.

11.3 Waiver

Our failure to enforce any right or provision of these Terms will not be considered a waiver of those rights. Any waiver must be in writing and signed by an authorized representative of SettleWise.

11.4 Assignment

You may not assign or transfer these Terms or your rights hereunder without our prior written consent. We may assign these Terms to any affiliate or in connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets.

11.5 Force Majeure

We shall not be liable for any failure to perform due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including acts of God, war, terrorism, riots, natural disasters, pandemic, or failure of telecommunications or internet services.

11.6 Headings

Section headings are for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of these Terms.

11.7 Language

These Terms are written in English. Any translated versions are provided for convenience only. In the event of conflict, the English version controls.

12. Special Provisions for Immigration Content

12.1 Educational Purpose

SettleWise provides immigration-related information solely for educational and informational purposes. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice or legal representation.

12.2 No Attorney-Client Relationship

Use of our Services does not create an attorney-client relationship. Communications with us are not privileged or confidential.

12.3 Time-Sensitive Information

Immigration laws, regulations, and procedures change frequently. Information on SettleWise may become outdated. Always verify current requirements with official sources such as:

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS.gov)
• U.S. Department of State (State.gov)
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP.gov)
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE.gov)

12.4 Individual Circumstances

Every immigration case is unique. Information that applies to one person may not apply to your situation. Consult with a qualified immigration attorney for advice specific to your circumstances.

13. Contact Information

If you have questions, concerns, or feedback regarding these Terms of Service, please contact us:

14. Acknowledgment and Acceptance

BY CREATING AN ACCOUNT, ACCESSING, OR USING SETTLEWISE, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT:

• You have read and understood these Terms of Service
• You have read and understood our Privacy Policy
• You agree to be bound by these Terms and our Privacy Policy
• You understand that SettleWise does not provide legal advice
• You will consult appropriate professionals for legal, financial, or medical decisions
• You accept the risks associated with using our Services
• You are legally capable of entering into binding contracts