Legal

Terms of Service

Effective Date: May 5, 2026
Last Updated: May 25, 2026

1. Acceptance of Terms

1.1 Binding Agreement

By accessing, browsing, or using theafterfiles.com (the "Website"), app.theafterfiles.com (the "App"), purchasing a subscription, or otherwise engaging with The After Files, LLC and its products (collectively, the "Service"), you agree to be legally bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms").

This is a legally binding contract. If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the Service.

1.2 Who Can Use This Service

By using the Service, you represent and warrant that:

  • You are 18 years of age or older (or the age of majority in your jurisdiction)
  • You have the legal capacity to enter into this agreement
  • You are using the Service for lawful purposes only
  • You will not use the Service to harm, threaten, harass, or violate the rights of others
  • If you are accessing the Service on behalf of a minor (your child or dependent), you are the parent or legal guardian and accept responsibility for their use

You are responsible for all activity on your account, including activity by anyone you authorize.

1.3 Changes to These Terms

The After Files reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be effective:

  • Immediately upon posting to the Website/App
  • For new users: Upon first use after modification
  • For existing users: 30 days after notice (material changes); 14 days for minor clarifications

Your continued use of the Service after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms. If you do not agree with changes, you may terminate your account and stop using the Service.

2. Service Description & Features

2.1 What The After Files Provides

The After Files is an estate planning platform that helps you organize and document your affairs across four domains:

DomainExamples
LegalWill/trust preferences, executor selection, asset location documentation
InsurancePolicy numbers, beneficiary designations, coverage information
LettersPersonal messages, ethical will, family communication, legacy content
LegacyLife story, digital assets, philanthropic preferences, family values

2.2 What We Do NOT Provide

The Service does NOT provide:

  • Legal advice: We do not provide personalized legal counsel (see Section 7: Disclaimers)
  • Medical advice: We do not provide healthcare guidance
  • Financial advice: We do not recommend investments or financial strategies
  • Tax advice: We do not provide tax planning (recommend consulting a tax professional)
  • Execution/notarization services: We do not execute, witness, or notarize documents (you are responsible for compliance with state law)
  • Document filing: We do not file documents with government agencies
  • Standalone legal documents: We provide educational worksheets, not attorney-drafted estate documents

2.3 Account Types & Subscription Tiers

Annual Subscription ($49.99/year)

  • Unlimited worksheet access and completion
  • Document export (PDF, Word)
  • JodAI assistant access (up to [X] conversations/month)
  • Family member sharing (up to 5 family members)
  • 1-year auto-renewal; cancel anytime before renewal

Weekly Subscription ($9.99/week)

  • Same features as Annual Subscription
  • 7-day recurring billing
  • Cancel anytime; last payment processed
  • No refund for partial week

Founding Circle Membership ($500, one-time)

  • Lifetime platform access (5 years from purchase; see Section 4.3 for definition)
  • Signed copy of The After Files book
  • Name listed on Founders' Wall (with your consent)
  • Quarterly product input (non-binding advisory input on feature development)
  • All Annual Subscription features included

Free Access (Limited)

  • Certain worksheets and educational content available at no cost
  • Limited to non-registered users; feature restrictions apply

2.4 Service Limitations

We do not guarantee:

  • 24/7 availability: The Service may have scheduled maintenance, updates, or downtime
  • Continuous access: We may suspend or terminate accounts for violations of these Terms
  • Specific outcomes: We do not guarantee your estate plan will be valid, comprehensive, or accepted by probate courts
  • Data recovery: While we maintain backups, we cannot guarantee recovery of deleted data
  • Performance: Load times, feature availability, or specific functionality

3. User Accounts & Responsibilities

3.1 Account Registration

To use the Service, you must:

  1. Provide accurate, current information (name, email, phone number if applicable)
  2. Create a secure password (minimum 8 characters, including numbers and letters)
  3. Agree to receive transactional emails (account confirmations, password resets, billing notifications)

3.2 Account Security

You are responsible for:

  • Protecting your password: Do not share your login credentials with anyone
  • Confidentiality: All activity on your account is your responsibility
  • Unauthorized use: Notify us immediately if you suspect unauthorized account access
  • Logout: Log out from shared devices, especially public computers
  • Accurate information: Keep your account information current and accurate

The After Files is NOT responsible for:

  • Unauthorized access due to weak passwords
  • Phishing attacks or credential theft
  • Use of your account by third parties you authorize
  • Loss of access due to forgotten passwords

3.3 Account Deactivation & Deletion

Deactivation

  • You can temporarily deactivate your account without losing data
  • Deactivated accounts cannot log in but data is retained for 12 months
  • Reactivate anytime by logging in during the 12-month window

Deletion

  • You can permanently delete your account via Settings > Account > Delete Account
  • Deletion is immediate and irreversible
  • All worksheets, documents, JodAI conversations, and account data are deleted
  • Payment records (last 4 digits, amount, date) are retained for 7 years for tax/legal compliance
  • We recommend exporting your documents before deletion

Account Recovery

  • If you delete your account, we cannot recover deleted data
  • You may create a new account with the same email address after deletion

4. Billing, Subscription, & Refund Policies

4.1 Subscription Billing

Recurring Charges

  • Annual Subscription: Billed once per year on the anniversary of your start date
  • Weekly Subscription: Billed every 7 days on the anniversary of your start date
  • Billing emails are sent to the email address on your account
  • We charge the payment method on file automatically unless you cancel

Auto-Renewal Disclosure

  • Your subscription will automatically renew unless you cancel
  • You will be notified by email at least 7 days before renewal
  • Cancellation must be made before the billing date to avoid charges
  • Charges will appear as "The After Files, LLC" on your statement

Payment Processing

  • Payments are processed securely by [Stripe/Square/PayPal—specify which]
  • We do NOT store your full credit card number; your payment processor does
  • If a payment fails, we will attempt to charge again; if it continues to fail, we may suspend your account

Taxes

  • Pricing does not include applicable sales taxes
  • We are responsible for collecting and remitting sales tax where required by law
  • Taxes (if applicable) will be added to your invoice at checkout

4.2 Refund Policy

Annual & Weekly Subscriptions

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee:

  • If you subscribe and are not satisfied, you may request a full refund within 30 days of your initial purchase
  • Refund applies only to your first subscription period
  • After 30 days, subscriptions are non-refundable
  • Refunds are processed to your original payment method within 5–10 business days

Conditions for Refund Eligibility:

  • You must not have shared your account login with third parties
  • You must not have violated these Terms
  • You must request the refund via email to support@theafterfiles.com

No refund is available if:

  • You cancel after 30 days
  • Your account was terminated due to Terms violation
  • You purchased the Weekly Subscription tier (7-day commitment with no refund eligibility)
  • The refund request is made more than 30 days after purchase

Founding Circle Membership

Non-Refundable:

  • The $500 Founding Circle membership is non-refundable
  • "Lifetime" is defined as 5 years of platform access from the date of purchase (see Section 4.3)
  • If you request a refund after 30 days of purchase, we cannot process it

Exception: If The After Files ceases operations, you will receive a pro-rata refund for unused membership period.

4.3 Founding Circle "Lifetime" Definition

"Lifetime membership" means:

  • 5 years of continuous platform access from the date of purchase
  • Access to all features included in Annual Subscription for the full 5-year period
  • Your name on the Founders' Wall for 5 years (or until membership expires)
  • Quarterly product input for 5 years
  • After 5 years, you will be asked if you want to convert to an Annual or Weekly Subscription to maintain access

If The After Files discontinues the Service:

  • All members will be notified at least 90 days in advance
  • Active memberships will receive a pro-rata refund for unused membership period

4.4 Payment Method & Declined Payments

  • We accept credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, and other payment methods as displayed at checkout
  • If your payment is declined, we will attempt to charge again within 7 days
  • If a second attempt fails, your account may be suspended
  • You are responsible for keeping your payment information current

4.5 Price Changes

We may change subscription pricing at any time:

  • Existing subscribers: Your current rate locks in until your next renewal date
  • Price increases: Will apply on your renewal date; you will be notified at least 30 days in advance
  • You may cancel before your renewal date if you do not accept the new price
  • New users: Pricing displayed at sign-up applies to their first subscription period

5. Content Ownership & Intellectual Property

5.1 Your Content (Worksheets, Documents, Letters)

Ownership

  • You own all content you create in the worksheets and documents (your personal information, letters, life story, etc.)
  • This remains your property even if you delete your account

License to The After Files

  • By using the Service, you grant The After Files a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to:
    • Store your content on secure servers
    • Display your content back to you
    • Process and analyze your content to improve the Service
    • Backup your content for data recovery
    • Anonymize and aggregate your data for product analytics

No Commercial Use

  • The After Files may not:
    • Sell your personal content
    • Share your estate documents with third parties without consent
    • Use your content in marketing materials (unless you explicitly authorize)
    • License your content to other companies

Sharing Your Content

  • You may export your documents in PDF or Word format
  • You may share your account login with family members for collaboration (on shared worksheets)
  • You may explicitly authorize sharing of specific documents with beneficiaries or family members
  • You are responsible for obtaining consent from any third parties mentioned in your documents before sharing

5.2 The After Files Content (Company IP)

Copyright & Ownership

  • All The After Files book content, worksheets, templates, designs, and educational materials are owned by The After Files, LLC
  • Copyright © 2024 The After Files, LLC. All rights reserved.

Your License

  • You have a personal, non-commercial license to:
    • View and use the educational content for your own estate planning
    • Download and print worksheets for personal use
    • Share the book or content with family members for their use

Restrictions

You may NOT:

  • Reproduce, republish, or distribute company content without permission
  • Remove or obscure copyright notices
  • Sell, resell, or license company content
  • Use company content in a competing service or product
  • Scrape or extract large amounts of content for data mining

5.3 JodAI-Generated Content

Ownership

  • Content generated by JodAI (responses, suggestions, guidance) is owned by The After Files
  • You have a personal license to use JodAI-generated content for your estate planning
  • The After Files may anonymize and analyze JodAI-generated content to improve the service

Accuracy & Responsibility

  • JodAI uses artificial intelligence and may generate inaccurate, incomplete, or inappropriate responses
  • You are responsible for reviewing and verifying all JodAI suggestions
  • Do not rely solely on JodAI output for legal, medical, or financial decisions

6. Prohibited Conduct

You agree NOT to use the Service to:

6.1 Illegal or Harmful Activities

  • Violate any federal, state, or local law
  • Commit fraud, identity theft, or financial crimes
  • Harass, threaten, bully, or defame any person
  • Create malicious content (malware, viruses, ransomware)
  • Engage in hacking, unauthorized access, or cybercrime

6.2 Misuse of the Service

  • Use the Service on behalf of someone else without their consent
  • Create multiple accounts to circumvent our terms or policies
  • Sell, trade, or transfer your account to another person
  • Use the Service to collect personal information from other users without consent
  • Spam, abuse, or flood the Service with unwanted messages

6.3 Intellectual Property Violations

  • Infringe on copyrights, patents, or trademarks
  • Plagiarize or claim ownership of others' content
  • Upload copyrighted content without permission

6.4 System Abuse

  • Attempt to gain unauthorized access to our servers or systems
  • Interfere with the Service's operation or performance
  • Reverse-engineer, decompile, or attempt to discover source code
  • Perform security testing without our written permission
  • Automate access to the Service (bots, scrapers) without permission

7. Disclaimers

7.1 NOT LEGAL ADVICE

⚠️ IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER:

The After Files provides educational information and worksheets, not legal advice.

The After Files does NOT:

  • Provide personalized legal counsel
  • Act as your attorney
  • Provide state-specific legal guidance
  • Guarantee that documents are valid or enforceable
  • Ensure compliance with your state's laws

You must:

  • Consult a licensed attorney in your state to ensure legal validity
  • Have documents reviewed by an attorney before execution
  • Ensure proper witnessing/notarization per your state's requirements
  • Understand that estate laws vary significantly by state and country

Your use of the Service does not create an attorney-client relationship.

7.2 NOT MEDICAL ADVICE

⚠️ IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER:

The After Files provides educational information about advance care planning and healthcare directives. We do NOT provide medical advice.

The After Files does NOT:

  • Provide medical guidance or diagnosis
  • Recommend medical treatments
  • Substitute for consultation with licensed healthcare providers
  • Ensure your advance directives are understood by medical professionals

You must:

  • Discuss your advance directives with your primary care physician
  • Ensure your healthcare proxy understands your wishes
  • Provide copies to your medical providers
  • Consult medical professionals for health-related decisions

7.3 NOT FINANCIAL OR TAX ADVICE

⚠️ IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER:

The After Files provides educational information about estate planning. We do NOT provide financial or tax advice.

The After Files does NOT:

  • Provide investment recommendations
  • Provide tax planning strategies
  • Estimate tax liability or estate tax implications
  • Recommend financial institutions or insurance products

You must:

  • Consult a licensed financial advisor for investment guidance
  • Consult a licensed tax professional (CPA, tax attorney) for tax planning
  • Consult an insurance professional for coverage recommendations

7.4 NO WARRANTY OF ACCURACY

We provide the Service "AS IS" without warranty that:

  • Information is accurate, complete, or up-to-date
  • Features will meet your specific needs
  • Documents will be legally valid in your jurisdiction
  • Service will be error-free or uninterrupted

Laws and regulations change frequently. We cannot guarantee that content reflects the current state of law in your state.

7.5 THIRD-PARTY INTEGRATIONS

If you authorize integration with third-party services (document signers, cloud storage, legal databases), you acknowledge:

  • We are NOT responsible for third-party services
  • Third parties may have their own terms, privacy policies, and limitations
  • Data shared with third parties is subject to their policies
  • We cannot guarantee third-party compatibility or continued availability

8. Limitation of Liability

8.1 Liability Cap

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE AFTER FILES'S TOTAL LIABILITY FOR ANY CLAIM IS LIMITED TO THE AMOUNT YOU PAID TO THE AFTER FILES IN THE 12 MONTHS BEFORE THE CLAIM AROSE (OR $100, WHICHEVER IS GREATER).

This applies to all claims, including:

  • Breach of contract
  • Negligence
  • Violation of your rights
  • Any other legal theory

8.2 Excluded Damages

The After Files is NOT liable for:

  • Indirect damages: Lost profits, lost revenue, lost data
  • Consequential damages: Damages that result from other damages (e.g., business interruption)
  • Punitive damages: Damages intended to punish bad behavior
  • Special damages: Unusual or unforeseen damages
  • Reputational harm: Harm to your reputation or standing

Even if we are advised of the possibility of such damages.

8.3 Examples of Limited Liability

If you suffer any of the following due to the Service, our liability is capped at your payment amount:

  • Your estate plan is invalid or rejected by probate court
  • Documents are lost due to a data breach
  • JodAI provides inaccurate guidance
  • Service is unavailable at a critical time
  • Documents shared with family are accessed by unauthorized persons
  • Your health information is disclosed to third parties

9. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless The After Files, LLC, its officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, or costs (including attorney's fees) arising from:

  • Your violation of these Terms
  • Your violation of applicable laws
  • Your content or use of the Service
  • Your dispute with another user
  • Harm caused by content you create or share

10. Termination of Account & Access

10.1 Termination by You

You may terminate your account at any time by:

  1. Logging into your account
  2. Navigating to Settings > Account > Deactivate/Delete Account
  3. Following the on-screen prompts

Upon termination:

  • Your access ends immediately
  • You have 12 months to reactivate or export data before permanent deletion
  • Subscription charges will cease at your next billing date

10.2 Termination by The After Files

We may terminate or suspend your account immediately if:

  • You violate these Terms or any law
  • You engage in fraudulent or unauthorized activity
  • You harass, threaten, or harm other users
  • Your account poses a security risk
  • You fail to pay for your subscription after 30 days (unpaid)
  • We are required to terminate by law

Notice: We will attempt to notify you via email, but are not required to do so.

10.3 Effects of Termination

Upon termination (by you or us):

  • Your access to the Service ends immediately
  • Your subscription charges stop (for future billing periods)
  • Your data may be deleted after 12 months
  • Sections that survive termination (Disclaimers, Limitation of Liability, Indemnification) remain in effect

11. Dispute Resolution & Arbitration

11.1 Informal Resolution

Before initiating legal action, you agree to attempt to resolve disputes informally:

  1. Send a written notice to support@theafterfiles.com describing the dispute, your proposed solution, and damages sought
  2. The After Files will respond within 30 days with our proposed resolution
  3. Both parties will negotiate in good faith for 60 days

11.2 Binding Arbitration

If informal resolution fails, you agree that any dispute will be resolved by binding arbitration, NOT in court.

Key Terms:

  • Arbitrator: A neutral, professional arbitrator will decide the dispute (not a judge or jury)
  • Location: Arbitration will be conducted virtually or in [City, State] (specify)
  • Rules: Administered under American Arbitration Association (AAA) Commercial Arbitration Rules
  • Cost: The After Files will pay arbitrator fees and administrative costs; you pay your attorney's fees (if any)
  • Confidentiality: Arbitration proceedings and outcomes are confidential

Exceptions to Arbitration:

  • Small Claims Court: Either party may bring claims in small claims court if claims are within jurisdiction
  • Injunctive Relief: Either party may seek injunctive relief (emergency court order) in a court of law
  • IP Disputes: Intellectual property disputes may be brought in federal court

11.3 Class Action Waiver

You agree that arbitration will be conducted on an individual basis only. You waive the right to:

  • Participate in class action lawsuits
  • Participate in group arbitrations
  • Pursue claims as a representative of others

11.4 Governing Law

These Terms are governed by the laws of [California/Delaware/specify state], without regard to conflicts of law. The courts of [City/County, State] have exclusive jurisdiction for enforcement, except as otherwise specified in this Section 11.

12. Warranty Disclaimers

12.1 AS IS

The Service is provided "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" without warranties of any kind:

We do NOT warrant that:

  • The Service meets your requirements
  • The Service will be uninterrupted or error-free
  • Defects will be corrected
  • Data is secure or will not be lost
  • Content is accurate or complete

12.2 Implied Warranties

To the maximum extent permitted by law, The After Files disclaims:

  • Implied warranty of merchantability
  • Implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose
  • Implied warranty of non-infringement
  • All other implied warranties

13. Accessibility & Non-Discrimination

13.1 Accessibility Commitment

The After Files is committed to making the Service accessible to people with disabilities. If you encounter accessibility barriers:

13.2 Equal Access

We do not discriminate based on:

  • Race, color, or national origin
  • Gender or gender identity
  • Religion or belief
  • Age
  • Disability
  • Sexual orientation
  • Veterans status
  • Any other legally protected characteristic

14. Exports, Compliance & Legal Holds

14.1 Export Controls

The After Files complies with U.S. export control laws. You may not use the Service if you are:

  • Located in a U.S. embargoed country
  • Sanctioned by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC)
  • Listed on any U.S. sanctions or export control list

14.2 Legal Holds & Cooperation

The After Files may:

  • Comply with subpoenas, court orders, or legal requests
  • Disclose your information to law enforcement or government agencies as required
  • Preserve data if we believe you have violated laws or these Terms
  • Cooperate with law enforcement investigations

We will notify you of legal requests unless legally prohibited.

15. Entire Agreement & Severability

15.1 Entire Agreement

These Terms, combined with our Privacy Policy, constitute the entire agreement between you and The After Files regarding the Service. Previous agreements, understandings, or negotiations are superseded.

15.2 Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found invalid or unenforceable:

  • That provision will be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it valid
  • If modification is not possible, the provision will be severed
  • Other Terms remain in full effect

15.3 Waiver

Failure to enforce any Term does not waive the Term or our right to enforce it later.

16. Contact & Support

16.1 Customer Support

For technical support, billing questions, or general inquiries:

Email: support@theafterfiles.com
Response Time: We aim to respond within 24 business hours
Availability: Monday–Friday, 9 AM–5 PM PT

16.2 Legal Notices

For legal notices, including dispute notices:

Email: legal@theafterfiles.com
Mailing Address:
The After Files, LLC
[Company Address]
[City, State ZIP Code]

17. Miscellaneous Provisions

17.1 Notice to California Residents

Under California's "Shine the Light" law, you have the right to request information about our disclosure of personal information to third parties for marketing purposes. To request this information, email privacy@theafterfiles.com with "Shine the Light" in the subject line.

17.2 Survival

Sections that survive termination of these Terms include:

  • Content Ownership & Intellectual Property (Section 5)
  • Disclaimers (Section 7)
  • Limitation of Liability (Section 8)
  • Indemnification (Section 9)
  • Dispute Resolution (Section 11)
  • Warranty Disclaimers (Section 12)
  • Entire Agreement (Section 15)

17.3 Independent Contractor

No employee, agent, partner, or independent contractor relationship is created between you and The After Files. You are an independent user; The After Files does not control your conduct except as necessary to enforce these Terms.

17.4 Force Majeure

The After Files is not liable for failure to perform obligations due to causes beyond our reasonable control (natural disasters, pandemics, war, terrorism, government action, etc.). We will resume performance as soon as practicable.

18. Acknowledgment

BY ACCESSING OR USING THE AFTER FILES SERVICE, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT:

  • You have read and understood these Terms of Service
  • You have read our Privacy Policy
  • You understand that The After Files does NOT provide legal, medical, financial, or tax advice
  • You understand our liability is limited as described in Section 8
  • You agree to use the Service only for lawful purposes
  • You agree to be bound by these Terms

End of Terms of Service

These Terms of Service were last updated [INSERT DATE] and are effective as of [INSERT DATE]. The most current version is always available at theafterfiles.com/terms.

APPENDIX A: Frequently Asked Questions (Optional)

Q: Do you provide legal advice?
A: No. We provide educational information only. You must consult a licensed attorney in your state to ensure legal validity.

Q: Can I get a refund?
A: Annual/Weekly subscriptions have a 30-day money-back guarantee. Founding Circle memberships are non-refundable. See Section 4.2 for details.

Q: Who owns my documents?
A: You own the content you create. The After Files has a license to store and process your content to provide the Service. See Section 5 for details.

Q: What happens if I delete my account?
A: Deletion is permanent. All worksheets, documents, and JodAI conversations are deleted. Minimal payment records are retained for 7 years. See Section 3.3 for details.

Q: Can I share documents with family?
A: Yes, you can explicitly authorize sharing of specific documents with beneficiaries or family members. You are responsible for obtaining consent from any third parties mentioned in the documents. See Section 5.1 for details.

Q: What if there's a data breach?
A: We will notify you and relevant authorities as required by law. Our liability is capped under Section 8.

Q: Can I use JodAI output in legal documents?
A: You should have an attorney review any estate documents before execution. JodAI output is educational and may contain errors. See Section 7 for disclaimers.

For more questions, email support@theafterfiles.com