1. OVERVIEW

This Refund Policy governs refund requests for services provided by Legismith Partners LLP through patentfilingcost.com. Due to the nature of intellectual property services and the involvement of government fees, refunds are subject to specific conditions and limitations outlined below. We strive to provide clear guidance on refund eligibility to ensure transparency in our professional relationship.

2. TYPES OF FEES

Our services involve three distinct categories of fees that are subject to different refund policies. Professional service fees include patent drafting and preparation fees, patent prosecution and office action response fees, patent search and analytics fees, consultation and advisory fees, and patent portfolio management fees. Government fees comprise patent office filing fees, examination fees, publication fees, grant and maintenance fees, and official search fees. Third-party costs encompass translation services, official drawings and illustrations, expedited processing fees, and local counsel fees in other jurisdictions.

3. REFUND ELIGIBILITY

Government fees paid to patent offices are non-refundable under any circumstances, including official filing fees, search and examination fees, patent office administrative fees, and government processing charges. This policy reflects the non-refundable nature of government fees as established by patent offices worldwide and is beyond our control.

Professional service fees have limited refundability and are refundable when services have not yet commenced, cancellation occurs within forty-eight hours of engagement before work begins, we are unable to provide agreed services due to internal reasons, or there are overcharges or billing errors. Professional service fees become non-refundable when work has been substantially commenced or completed, consultation services have already been provided, patent applications have already been filed, or research and search work has already been conducted.

Third-party costs are generally non-refundable once services have been ordered or provided by external vendors, as these costs are passed through to third parties who maintain their own refund policies. We will assist clients in pursuing refunds directly with third-party vendors when appropriate.

4. REFUND TIMEFRAMES AND CONDITIONS

For pre-work cancellation, full refunds are available if cancellation occurs within forty-eight hours of engagement and before any work has commenced, with processing time of five to ten business days and refund issued to the original payment method. Post-commencement cancellation allows for partial refunds based on charges only for work completed to date, excluding non-refundable portions such as government fees, completed services, and third-party costs, with an assessment period of fifteen business days to evaluate completed work and refund processing of ten to fifteen business days after assessment.

Service quality issues are subject to a thirty-day review period from service completion, with resolution priority given to service correction or completion before refund consideration. Partial refunds are available for documented service deficiencies, while full refunds are only provided in cases of complete service failure that cannot be remedied through additional work or correction.

5. SPECIFIC SERVICE REFUND POLICIES

Patent drafting services are refundable before initial draft preparation begins or if we cannot complete drafting due to our limitations, but become non-refundable after first draft delivery, after client review and feedback cycle begins, or if client decides not to proceed with filing after receiving completed work product.

Patent filing services allow refunds of professional fees if filing is cancelled before submission to patent offices, with government fees always excluded, and our filing fees refundable if patent office rejects for formal defects we should have caught. These services become non-refundable for any fees after application is filed with patent office, government fees under all circumstances, and professional fees for filed applications.

Patent prosecution services are refundable for fees for office action responses not yet prepared and unused retainer amounts for future work, but are non-refundable for fees for office action responses already filed, strategy consultation already provided, and government fees for examiner responses. Patent search services are refundable before search work commences or if search cannot be completed due to our technical limitations, but become non-refundable after search work begins, after preliminary results are provided, or after final search report delivery.

Consultation services are non-refundable for all consultation services once provided, advisory meetings already conducted, strategy sessions completed, and technical reviews performed. The nature of consultation services makes them immediately consumable upon delivery.

6. REFUND REQUEST PROCESS

To request a refund, you must provide your client name and contact information, invoice or engagement reference number, detailed reason for refund request, supporting documentation, and preferred refund method. Requests may be submitted by email to patent@legismith.com, written request to our business address at Office No. 507, Sukhwani Boulevard Commerz, Pashan-Sus Road, above Domino’s, Sus, Pune-411021, or through our secure client portal if applicable.

Our review process includes initial review within five business days to acknowledge receipt, assessment period of ten to fifteen business days for evaluation, decision communication through written response with detailed explanation, and processing of five to fifteen business days for approved refunds. Required documentation includes original payment receipts, correspondence records, work product received if applicable, and evidence of service deficiency if claiming quality issues.

7. DISPUTE RESOLUTION

Internal review procedures include initial refund disputes reviewed by senior management, additional review by practice area leaders, and client meetings or calls to discuss concerns. We adhere to patent agent professional rules, comply with legal professional standards, and maintain ethical obligations regarding client funds throughout the dispute resolution process.

External dispute resolution options include mediation through professional associations, arbitration as specified in engagement agreements, and legal proceedings as a last resort. We prefer to resolve disputes through direct communication and professional mediation when possible.

8. SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES

Force majeure events such as patent office closures due to emergencies, government policy changes affecting services, technical system failures beyond our control, and natural disasters or similar events are subject to case-by-case evaluation for refunds or service credits. We work with clients to find fair solutions during extraordinary circumstances.

Services based on client error or misrepresentation are non-refundable, including services based on incorrect client information, work performed based on client misrepresentations, and applications rejected due to client-provided prior art. Clients have a responsibility to provide accurate and complete information for our services.

Changes in client circumstances such as business closure or bankruptcy, change in patent strategy, discovery of prior art by client, and market changes affecting patent value have limited refundability and are evaluated on a case-by-case basis considering work already performed and commitments made to third parties.

9. PAYMENT METHOD CONSIDERATIONS

Credit card refunds are processed to the original card and may take five to ten business days to appear, subject to credit card company policies. Bank transfer refunds require verified banking information with processing time of seven to fifteen business days, and international transfers may incur fees that will be deducted from the refund amount. Check refunds are issued to registered client address with processing time of ten to twenty business days and are available for domestic clients only.

10. PROFESSIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT

We maintain trust account compliance by holding client funds in designated trust accounts, maintaining separate accounting for client and firm funds, and ensuring compliance with professional rules governing client funds. Retainer management includes clear accounting of retainer usage, regular statements of work performed, and prompt processing of unused retainer refunds when engagements conclude.

11. LIMITATIONS AND EXCLUSIONS

Refund requests must be submitted within ninety days of service completion, government fee refunds are not available under any circumstances, and consultation fee refunds are not available after services are provided. We are not responsible for refunding indirect or consequential losses, lost business opportunities, patent application rejections by patent offices, or competitive disadvantages resulting from patent prosecution outcomes.

No refunds are available for circumstances beyond our control including patent office procedural changes, government fee increases, third-party vendor service issues, and external legal or regulatory changes. These limitations reflect the complex and uncertain nature of patent prosecution and the involvement of multiple parties beyond our control.

12. MODIFICATION OF REFUND POLICY

This Refund Policy may be updated to reflect changes in professional standards, patent office policy changes, legal or regulatory requirements, and business practice improvements. Existing client engagements are governed by the refund policy in effect at the time of engagement, ensuring consistent treatment throughout the professional relationship.

13. CONTACT INFORMATION

For refund requests or questions about this policy, contact our Refund Department at Legismith Partners LLP, Office No. 507, Sukhwani Boulevard Commerz, Pashan-Sus Road, above Domino’s, Sus, Pune-411021, by email at patent@legismith.com, or by phone at 8149123580. We respond to all refund inquiries within five business days during normal business operations.

14. PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS COMPLIANCE

This Refund Policy complies with Indian Patent Agent professional rules, international patent attorney standards, professional accounting standards, and client trust account regulations. We maintain the highest standards of professional conduct in all financial matters and client relationships.

This Refund Policy is effective as of 15/09/2025 and applies to all services provided after that date. Previous engagements are governed by the refund terms in effect at the time of service.

IMPORTANT NOTE: This policy is subject to the terms of your specific engagement letter or service agreement. In case of conflict, the engagement letter terms shall prevail.