Cancellation, Rescheduling, and Refund Policy

This policy covers direct bookings for mobile notary appointments, loan signing support, remote online notarization, and apostille/authentication courier and document-handling services when offered. Credit services, tax preparation, bookkeeping, and travel services require separate terms and are not covered here. Assignments accepted through a signing service, lender, or title company are governed by the applicable written assignment agreement.

A request does not reserve an appointment until Hammond & Associates confirms it in writing and any required payment is received. Before payment, clients receive a written quote identifying the services, charges, payment requirements, and this policy. Any deposit is credited toward the quoted total; a deposit is not automatically forfeited merely because a booking is confirmed.

Notarial fees are identified separately from agreed travel, printing, courier, and other non-notarial services. Notarial fees will not exceed applicable legal limits. No notarial fee is earned for a notarial act that is not performed.

Please cancel by email or text using the contact information on your booking confirmation. The time the message is received determines the notice period; keep a copy of your message.

At least 24 hours before the appointment: Payments are refunded less charges for authorized services already performed and approved third-party expenses already incurred that cannot be recovered.

Less than 24 hours before the appointment, including same-day bookings: The same deductions apply. If travel has begun, the separately quoted and accepted travel/dispatch charge is also due. Unperformed services are refunded. This policy does not impose an additional automatic cancellation penalty.

No expense or service is charged twice. We provide an itemized explanation of amounts retained. A client cancellation does not make the entire quoted price automatically non-refundable.

One rescheduling request received at least 24 hours before the appointment may transfer the unused payment balance to an available appointment within 30 days. Services already performed and unrecoverable approved expenses do not transfer. Additional travel, repeat printing, or other new services require a new quote and client approval.

For requests received with less than 24 hours' notice, the cancellation rules above apply, and the remaining balance may be transferred by agreement. If a mutually acceptable appointment is unavailable, the refundable balance will be returned.

Clients must provide an accurate, accessible location; ensure every required signer is present and able to participate voluntarily; have identification acceptable under applicable notary rules; and provide complete documents and any required eligible witnesses unless witness services were expressly arranged with us. Obtain document and witness requirements from the document issuer or receiving organization. Do not sign documents in advance unless instructed.

We allow a 15-minute grace period after the confirmed appointment time, provided the notary is present and ready. If the client cannot be reached or the appointment cannot proceed, we may leave or reschedule. Additional waiting time requires availability and advance agreement on its price.

For a no-show, incorrect address, missing witnesses, unsuitable identification, incomplete documents, or other client-related obstacle, accepted travel/dispatch charges and authorized services already performed remain due. Fees for unperformed notarial acts and other unperformed services are refunded. A return visit or repeat printing requires a separately approved quote.

Payment does not guarantee notarization. A notary must decline when legal requirements are unmet, including concerns about identity, willingness, awareness, or improper requests. Only the disclosed charges for services actually provided and approved unrecoverable expenses may be retained; no fee is retained for an unperformed notarial act.

For remote appointments, clients must have the required equipment, connection, acceptable identification, and ability to complete the platform's identity process. Only platform or identity-verification costs disclosed and accepted before they are incurred may be deducted for an unsuccessful session, subject to applicable law and platform refund rules.

If an error by Hammond & Associates causes a service to require correction, we will offer a lawful correction at no additional charge or refund the affected service if it cannot be corrected. Client-requested document changes or errors originating with the client or document issuer may require separately approved additional services.

Hammond & Associates provides the handling and courier services identified in the accepted quote. Government authorities issue apostilles and authentication certificates and determine document eligibility. We do not provide legal advice or guarantee acceptance by a foreign authority or other receiving organization.

Before work begins, the written quote or service agreement identifies the document count and type, destination country, requested process, included service stages and their prices, government and third-party expenses, and delivery method. Clients authorize submission and the approved expenses in writing. Additional documents, translations, replacement records, or further authentication steps require a revised quote and approval.

Cancellation before work begins: Full refund.

Cancellation after work begins: Refund of the unused balance after deducting the agreed price of completed service stages and approved expenses actually incurred that cannot be recovered. Merely opening an order does not earn the entire service fee. Any third-party refund later received for the client's order will be passed back to the client.

Government processing times and shipping dates are estimates unless an express written guarantee is provided. Rush fees pay for the specific expedited handling described in the quote; they do not guarantee government approval or processing speed. An unperformed rush service is refunded.

If a document is rejected, we explain the reason provided by the authority and discuss the available next steps. Completed authorized services and unrecoverable approved expenses remain chargeable when rejection results from client-supplied documents or an authority's requirements outside our control. Fees for unperformed stages are refunded. Errors by Hammond & Associates are handled under Section 5; additional costs caused by our error are not passed to the client.

On cancellation, documents still in our possession will be returned promptly through an agreed secure method. Any client-paid return shipping must have been approved. Documents already submitted are subject to the authority's retrieval and return procedures. We provide tracking or delivery confirmation where available.

If we cannot provide the agreed service, the client may choose an available replacement appointment or a refund for unperformed services. When we cancel a mobile appointment, we do not retain a cancellation or travel charge for that canceled visit. Any completed apostille stages and unrecoverable third-party expenses are itemized; amounts arising from our error are handled under Section 5. We will not substitute a credit for a refund without the client's agreement.

Refunds due under this policy will be initiated within 5 business days after cancellation or determination of the refundable amount, using the original payment method where possible. Banks and payment providers control when the refund appears. We do not deduct payment-processing fees from refunds under this policy.

Please contact us promptly with billing concerns so we can review and resolve them. We may submit the accepted quote, policy acknowledgment, correspondence, receipts, and service or delivery records in response to a payment dispute. Nothing in this policy limits rights under applicable law or payment-provider rules, or requires clients to miss a dispute deadline.

Clients receive this policy before payment and expressly accept it by signing or selecting an unchecked acknowledgment box. Requesting information alone does not constitute acceptance. The version accepted at booking applies to that booking; later revisions apply prospectively. No provision overrides a mandatory legal cancellation or refund right.

I have received and read this policy and the itemized quote. I understand which charges relate to notarization, separate services, and third-party expenses, and how cancellation and refunds are handled. I authorize only the services and expenses identified in the accepted quote.

Client name: ________________________

Order/quote number: ________________________

Client signature: ________________________

Date: ________________________