Payment and Billing Terms

These Payment and Billing Terms (the “Payment Terms”) govern invoices issued and payments received by Middlesex Notary Co LLC d/b/a CIVIL CONSTABLE (“CIVIL CONSTABLE,” “we,” “us”). They form part of the Civil Process Service Agreement and the Terms and Conditions and apply together with your written quote (the “Quote”).

1. Prices

1.1 Every assignment is priced in a Quote before you authorize it. CIVIL CONSTABLE charges only amounts stated in the Quote or approved by you in writing before the corresponding work is performed.

1.2 Certain fees of sheriffs, deputy sheriffs and constables for the service of civil process are established by statute (G.L. c. 262, § 8). Where a statutory fee applies, the Quote identifies that component separately from other charges.

1.3 Unless the Quote provides otherwise, prices do not include witness fees, mileage or other amounts required to accompany a document.

1.4 CIVIL CONSTABLE does not impose a surcharge on payments made by credit card. Massachusetts law prohibits a seller from imposing such a surcharge (G.L. c. 140D, § 28A).

2. Invoices

2.1 Invoices are issued by email and are available in the client portal. Each invoice states its number, the services and amounts, any deposit or partial payment requested, the due date, and a secure link for online payment, and is available as a PDF.

2.2 Unless the Quote or invoice states otherwise, payment is due fourteen (14) days after the invoice date. A Quote may require a deposit or full payment before work begins.

2.3 For firm and business accounts, invoices are sent to the billing contact designated for the account and are visible to the account’s owners and administrators and to members with access to all of the account’s requests. You are responsible for keeping the billing contact current.

3. Online Payments

3.1 Online payments are processed by Stripe on Stripe’s secure, hosted checkout page. Accepted methods may include credit and debit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Link, and, where offered on an invoice, ACH bank debit.

3.2 Card and bank details are entered directly with Stripe. CIVIL CONSTABLE does not receive or store full card numbers, card security codes or online-banking credentials. We receive the card brand and last four digits (or the bank name and last four digits) to identify the payment.

3.3 A payment is credited only when Stripe confirms it to CIVIL CONSTABLE. Reaching a confirmation page in your browser is not, by itself, confirmation of payment. ACH bank payments generally take three to five business days to confirm, during which the invoice shows the payment as pending.

3.4 A receipt is emailed when a payment is confirmed, and the invoice PDF reflects the payment.

3.5 CIVIL CONSTABLE will not charge a stored payment method without your authorization for that specific charge.

4. Other Payment Methods

Payment may also be made by check or by another method agreed with CIVIL CONSTABLE in writing. Contact info@civilconstable.com for payment instructions. Offline payments are credited when received and recorded by CIVIL CONSTABLE.

5. Unpaid Balances

5.1 If an invoice is not paid when due, CIVIL CONSTABLE may (a) send payment reminders as described in the Electronic Communications Policy; (b) suspend unstarted work on the related assignment; and (c) require advance payment for future requests.

5.2 CIVIL CONSTABLE does not charge late fees or interest unless they are stated in the Quote before you authorize the work.

5.3 Payment reminders stop automatically when the invoice is paid, voided, or a payment is being processed.

6. Refunds

Refunds are governed by the Refund and Cancellation Policy. Card refunds are returned to the original payment method through Stripe.

7. Payment Disputes and Chargebacks

7.1 Please contact CIVIL CONSTABLE before disputing a charge with your card issuer.

7.2 If a payment is disputed, Stripe notifies CIVIL CONSTABLE, the invoice reflects the dispute, and CIVIL CONSTABLE may provide your card issuer, through Stripe, with the Quote, the signed authorization and records of the work performed. If the dispute is resolved in your favor, the invoice is updated accordingly; if it is resolved in favor of CIVIL CONSTABLE, the balance remains due.

8. Taxes

Prices do not include taxes unless the Quote so states. Taxes are added only where they apply to the service and are shown on the invoice.

9. Billing Questions

Direct billing questions to info@civilconstable.com or 781-579-7462 and include the invoice number.