Public notice
How this notice applies
This page explains the website, portal, and online-tool terms that apply when you use Simon Law Group's public and client-facing digital services.
Effective Date: 2026-05-04
1. About this Disclosure
Simon Law Group, LLC ("SLG") accepts payments through third-party payment processors. This Disclosure explains who processes your payments, how funds are routed (including trust funds held under New Jersey Rule of Professional Conduct 1.15), and the risks you accept by paying through these channels. It supplements, and does not replace, your engagement letter (retainer) and our Trust Account (IOLTA) Statement.
2. Processors and Their Roles
| Vendor | Role | Funds Routed |
|---|---|---|
| LawPay (AffiniPay) | Card and ACH processor designed for law-firm trust compliance | Trust (IOLTA) and operating |
| Stripe | Card and ACH processor; supports SLG's "Stripe Trust" routing | Trust (IOLTA) and operating |
| Plaid | Bank-account verification and ACH initiation | Bank-link only |
Each processor is an independent service provider. You agree to the processor's own terms when you pay through them. We are not party to those terms and do not control how the processor handles your card data, ACH credentials, or bank-link information.
3. PCI-DSS / Pass-Through
SLG does not receive or store your full card number, CVV, full bank account credentials, or Plaid login credentials. Payment data is collected directly by the processor (PCI-DSS pass-through). The processor returns to us only the information necessary to apply the payment to your account.
4. Trust vs. Operating Routing
Funds you pay are routed based on their character:
- Advance fees and costs that have not yet been earned — routed to the IOLTA trust account at TD Bank, N.A., held under SLG's name as a fiduciary.
- Earned fees, reimbursements, and approved disbursements — routed to the operating account.
- Settlement funds — generally received into trust, accounted for under RPC 1.15(d), and disbursed to client, lienholders, and the firm per the settlement statement.
The Portal displays which account a given payment is being routed to before you confirm. If the routing is not clear, contact us before paying.
5. Receipts and Records
You receive an electronic receipt for each payment. Trust statements are available on request (at least quarterly is our practice). See the E-Sign Consent for delivery.
6. Refunds
- Trust funds are refundable to you to the extent unearned, less authorized disbursements (RPC 1.15(d)).
- Earned fees are refundable only to the extent provided in your engagement letter. If a fee is determined unreasonable in fee arbitration under R. 1:20A or by a court, the resulting refund order overrides this Section (RPC 1.5(a) prohibits unreasonable fees).
- Processor fees and chargebacks may be netted against amounts due in accordance with the processor's terms.
7. Automatic Payments
If you authorize automatic or recurring payments, you may cancel by:
- updating Portal settings; or
- emailing billing@simonattorneys.com with at least 5 business days' notice.
8. Chargebacks and Disputes
If you initiate a chargeback or dispute with the processor, the processor's procedures govern the dispute. SLG will cooperate as appropriate but is not the merchant of record for purposes of card-network rules. A chargeback against trust funds may create regulatory and ethical issues for both you and the firm; please contact us before initiating one so we can resolve the underlying issue directly.
9. NJ Fee Arbitration Notice
Notice (RPC 1.5; R. 1:20A-6). If you have a dispute about legal fees, you may have the right to request fee arbitration through the New Jersey Fee Arbitration Committee. A formal pre-action notice will be provided where required by Court Rule before any fee suit is filed.
10. Disclaimer of Risk
You acknowledge and accept:
1. Processor outages and errors. Card networks, ACH systems, and processor platforms occasionally fail or experience delays. SLG is not liable for delayed, failed, or duplicated payments caused by a processor, network, or carrier.
2. Bank-link risk. Plaid stores your bank credentials under Plaid's terms. Compromise of those credentials at Plaid is governed by Plaid's terms. SLG does not store those credentials.
3. Card and account fraud. SLG is not the issuer of your card or account, does not store your full payment credentials, and is not responsible for fraud, identity theft, or unauthorized access at the processor or your bank, except where caused by SLG's own breach of contract, negligence, or willful misconduct. Your remedies for fraud at a processor or bank are governed by federal consumer-protection law (Regulation E for ACH, Regulation Z for credit cards, the FCBA, the EFTA) and the processor's or bank's terms; nothing here waives those rights.
4. Reliance on third-party representations. Confirmations and balances reflect the data the processor returns; the processor's records control in case of conflict.
5. No guarantee of uptime. The Portal and processor systems may be unavailable for maintenance, force majeure, or other reasons.
Nothing in this Section 10 limits any rights you have under the New Jersey Rules of Professional Conduct, the New Jersey Truth-in-Consumer Contract, Warranty and Notice Act (TCCWNA), the New Jersey Consumer Fraud Act, or other applicable law that cannot lawfully be waived.
11. Anti-Fraud and Verification
We may delay or refuse a payment if we suspect fraud, money laundering, or unauthorized use, or if required by law (including OFAC sanctions screening). We may request additional verification before disbursing trust funds.
11.1 Cash and IRS Form 8300
SLG follows IRS reporting obligations for cash transactions. We do not accept cash, money orders, cashier's checks, or other "cash equivalents" in amounts that would require IRS Form 8300 reporting (currently $10,000 in a single transaction or in related transactions), except where the payment can be properly received and reported. Where Form 8300 reporting applies, SLG will report as required by 26 U.S.C. § 6050I.
11.2 Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection
In rare cases of lawyer dishonesty causing client loss, the New Jersey Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection may reimburse clients in narrow circumstances. The Fund is not insurance and not a guarantee. See Trust Account (IOLTA) Statement for further information.
12. Vendor Links
- LawPay (AffiniPay): https://www.lawpay.com/about/terms-of-service/
- Stripe: https://stripe.com/legal
- Plaid (End User Privacy Policy): https://plaid.com/legal/
These links are current as of the Effective Date and may change.
13. Contact
Billing: billing@simonattorneys.com · (800) 709-1131
Trust questions: trust@simonattorneys.com
General: 40 W. High St., Somerville, NJ 08876