Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms, Contracting Entity & Scope of Agreement

These Terms of Service (these "Terms") constitute a legally binding contract entered into by and between you, whether personally or on behalf of an entity ("Client," "you," or "your"), and Cardinal Sites ("Company," "Cardinal Sites," "we," "us," or "our"). These Terms govern your access to and use of the website located at https://cardinalsites.com (the "Site"), as well as any associated technical services, discovery consultations, proprietary web architectures, and custom website rebuild projects delivered by Cardinal Sites (collectively, the "Services").

By accessing or browsing the Site, scheduling an initial phone discovery consultation, or engaging Cardinal Sites for a website rebuild, you expressly acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by all of these Terms. If you are entering into these Terms on behalf of a boutique law firm, professional limited liability company, professional corporation, partnership, or other commercial legal practice, you represent and warrant that you possess the full legal authority to bind such legal entity to these Terms. If you lack such legal authority, or if you do not agree with each and every provision set forth herein, you are expressly prohibited from utilizing the Site or our Services and must immediately cease all access and use.

You further understand and agree that scheduling or participating in a discovery consultation does not create a binding service agreement or commit either party to a website build. A binding professional service engagement is established solely upon the execution of a written service agreement or scope authorization between Cardinal Sites and your law firm, accompanied by the receipt of any agreed initial deposit.

2. Professional Representation & Non-Legal Advice Disclaimer

Cardinal Sites is a hyper-specialized web design, digital architecture, and AI Visibility Optimization consultancy serving boutique family law firms and domestic litigation practices. Cardinal Sites is not a law firm, does not employ attorneys to provide legal representation or counsel to the general public, is not a lawyer referral service, and does not engage in the practice of law in any jurisdiction. None of the written content, architectural standards, schema models, performance benchmarks, cost calculators, articles, or verbal statements provided on the Site or during discovery consultations constitute legal advice, legal opinions, or professional legal guidance.

The client law firm maintains sole, exclusive, and non-delegable professional responsibility for ensuring that all website content, practice area descriptions, attorney credentials, peer review badges, bar admissions, jurisdictional disclaimers, fee structures, and advertising statements published on its delivered website strictly comply with all applicable rules of professional conduct. This includes, without limitation, the American Bar Association (ABA) Model Rules of Professional Conduct, state-specific bar association ethics rules, and jurisdictional advertising regulations governing attorney communications and client solicitation.

Communications between your law firm and Cardinal Sites are held in strict commercial confidence in accordance with our Privacy Policy; however, such communications do not create an attorney-client relationship, do not constitute privileged legal communications, and are not protected by attorney-client privilege or the attorney work-product doctrine.

3. Professional Web Rebuild Scope & Deliverable Architecture

Cardinal Sites designs, develops, and delivers custom, high-performance web presences engineered specifically for independent family law practices. A standard Cardinal Sites website rebuild encompasses a complete custom web presence covering core firm hubs, including the Homepage, About / Firm Profile, Contact, Practice Areas Hub, Client Testimonials and Reviews, Firm Legal Policies (Terms of Service and Privacy Policy), and Team Directory Hub.

To maintain structural clarity and eliminate mid-project ambiguity, individual practice area sub-pages, individual attorney biography pages, and specific client resource tools are grouped together into their respective parent categories and counted collectively as a single page unit toward the standard baseline build scope. Every rebuild includes mobile and tablet responsive layouts engineered without template bloat, clean site navigation, and a dynamically generated, validated sitemap.xml file ready for submission to Google Search Console and major search engines.

Specialized custom interactive tools, including interactive estimated matter fee calculators, retainer calculators, and downloadable client resource vaults (such as divorce worksheets or custody schedules in PDF format), are not automatically included in every standard build. Such tools are engineered exclusively when explicitly agreed upon in writing during the pre-build discovery phase and confirmed in the approved project scope.

4. The 96-Hour (4-Day) Delivery Timeline

Cardinal Sites operates an accelerated, high-efficiency development model designed to eliminate the multi-month delays commonly associated with traditional marketing agencies. Our typical project turnaround is four (4) days (ninety-six (96) hours). You expressly acknowledge and agree that the 4-day build timeline does not commence upon initial contact, scheduling of a discovery call, or contract execution; the 96-hour build clock begins strictly on the business day following receipt and verification by Cardinal Sites of all mandatory Tier 1 client onboarding inputs.

The typical four-day delivery schedule proceeds according to the following defined milestones:

• Day 1 (Frontend Architecture): Construction of the complete custom front-end codebase, implementation of responsive layouts tailored to the firm's brand identity, and structural formatting of core navigation and practice area frameworks.
• Day 2 (Frontend Finalization & Backend Setup): Completion of all front-end views and engineering of backend workflows, including consultation forms, contact intake pipelines, and data connections routing inquiries directly to the firm's designated destination (CRM, spreadsheet, or corporate email).
• Day 3 (Backend Polish, Verification & Quality Assurance): Finalization of backend logic, comprehensive verification of attorney credentials and disclosures against submitted materials, validation of structured Schema.org legal entities, mobile Core Web Vitals speed audits, and cross-browser quality assurance testing.
• Day 4 (Delivery, Launch Assistance & Day-of Adjustments): Formal delivery notification, complete codebase handoff, scheduled launch assistance call to guide domain pointing and Google Search Console sitemap submission, and execution of approved day-of-delivery fine-tuning adjustments.

While the 4-day turnaround represents our standard operating protocol for verified scopes, delivery dates may vary slightly if the client requests custom architectural extensions or fails to participate in scheduled delivery milestones.

5. Client Inputs, Prerequisites & Onboarding Obligations

The rapid, uncompromised execution of our 4-day build process requires complete and prompt cooperation from the client law firm. Development cannot begin until all required materials are provided in satisfactory format. Client inputs are categorized into three operational tiers:

Failure to provide Tier 1 inputs in full tolls and suspends any delivery commitments. Cardinal Sites reserves the right to reschedule the build process if inputs remain outstanding beyond agreed onboarding dates.

6. Code Ownership, Delivery Mechanism & Intellectual Property

Upon successful delivery of the website and receipt of full payment, Cardinal Sites transfers one hundred percent (100%) ownership of the bespoke front-end and back-end codebase to the client law firm. Cardinal Sites does not retain proprietary platform lock-in, does not charge ongoing software licensing fees, and does not restrict your right to modify, export, or transfer your code.

Code delivery is executed via two standard deliverables: (1) A direct project repository transfer through GitHub to the client firm's designated GitHub account or organization, and (2) A complete, downloadable compressed .zip archive containing the full production source code, configuration files, and static assets.

The client acknowledges that custom websites engineered by Cardinal Sites utilize industry-standard, open-source software libraries and frameworks, including Next.js, React, Tailwind CSS, and Phosphor Icons. While the bespoke structural layout, design configuration, and firm-specific code are assigned to the client, underlying open-source libraries remain subject to their respective open-source licenses (such as the MIT License or Apache 2.0). The client warrants that all text, trademarks, logos, photography, and materials supplied to Cardinal Sites are owned by the client or used with valid legal authorization, and client retains sole ownership of all such pre-existing intellectual property.

7. Explicit Scope Exclusions & Operational Boundaries

To maintain rigorous standards, protect delivery timelines, and eliminate surprise fees, Cardinal Sites enforces strict boundaries regarding what is excluded from our rebuild service:

• Restarts During Build: Once the 4-day build process has commenced following input verification, development proceeds strictly according to the agreed plan. Full project resets, structural restarts, or wholesale concept revisions during the build are strictly excluded.
• Mid-Build Scope Creep: New features, additional pages, or auxiliary integrations not explicitly agreed upon during the pre-build call cannot be introduced during an active build process.
• No Ongoing Monthly Marketing Retainers: Cardinal Sites does not charge mandatory recurring monthly SEO, PPC, or marketing retainers. We engineer durable technical search visibility, Schema.org entities, and mobile performance directly into the core code upon launch.
• No Ongoing General Maintenance or Webmaster Retainers: Cardinal Sites is not an ongoing maintenance agency. Following the post-launch polish period, the firm maintains full autonomy and responsibility for managing its site, updating attorney bios, and maintaining domain registrations.
• Website Hosting Exclusions: Cardinal Sites does not sell, bundle, or mark up web hosting. The client owns the code and hosts it directly with modern cloud hosting providers (such as Vercel, Netlify, or standard web hosts like GoDaddy).
• Incompatibility with Closed Website Builders: Because our sites are custom-built with modern Next.js code for maximum speed and schema control, they are technically incompatible with closed, proprietary website builders such as Squarespace, Wix, or WordPress. The client is responsible for maintaining hosting on an environment supporting modern web code.

8. Delivery-Day Setup & 7-Day Polish Period

On Day 4 (Delivery Day), Cardinal Sites joins the client for a dedicated launch assistance session. During this delivery milestone, Cardinal Sites provides immediate setup support, assists with pointing DNS records to the client's host, guides submission of the sitemap.xml to Google Search Console, and executes reasonable day-of adjustments, including section rearranging, primary color palette calibration, and image asset swaps.

Following delivery day, Cardinal Sites provides a dedicated seven (7) calendar day post-launch polish window. During this 7-day period, the client may request minor adjustments, strictly limited to: (1) FAQ text edits and clarifications; (2) Font color adjustments; and (3) Layout padding, margin, or alignment tweaks.

The 7-day polish window strictly excludes the creation of new pages, the development of new functional features, structural layout overhauls, or full redesigns. Upon the expiration of seven (7) calendar days following code delivery, all Services under the project shall be irrevocably deemed complete, approved, and accepted. Any work requested subsequent to this period requires a separate statement of work.

9. AI Visibility Optimization (AVO) & Search Realities

"AI Visibility Optimization" (AVO) is defined strictly as the technical engineering of website architecture, semantic HTML5 hierarchy, deep Schema.org legal entity graphs, and discrete, machine-parseable text structures designed to maximize the readability, accuracy, and citation eligibility of a law firm's digital presence by modern large language models, conversational engines, and search crawlers (including ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews).

You acknowledge and agree that Cardinal Sites does not control, operate, or influence the proprietary algorithms, indexation policies, or machine learning models utilized by third-party search engines or artificial intelligence companies. Cardinal Sites makes no warranty, express or implied, that a rebuild will achieve specific numerical search engine rankings, guaranteed citation counts in conversational queries, or a predetermined volume of inbound client retainers. Client acquisition outcomes depend heavily on external factors beyond our control, including local market competitiveness, firm pricing, prospective client litigation budgets, and the promptness of the firm's internal consultation follow-up protocols.

10. Third-Party Integrations, Platforms & External Services

In executing the rebuild, Cardinal Sites may connect or embed independent third-party services designated by the client, including Calendly, LawPay, Clio, Google Search Console, GitHub, Vercel, Netlify, or corporate email providers.

Cardinal Sites exercises no control over the uptime, technical functionality, privacy practices, terms of service, fee structures, or API stability of these external vendors. The client remains solely responsible for establishing, funding, and maintaining active accounts with all required third-party services. Cardinal Sites shall not be liable for any service interruptions, data losses, transaction errors, or security breaches arising from or related to third-party platforms.

11. Discovery Calls & Consultation Conduct

Cardinal Sites provides a 15-minute phone discovery consultation to evaluate prospective client web architecture and assess mutual fit. Discovery calls are conducted directly by telephone; our team dials the direct telephone number supplied by the prospective client in the booking form. No proprietary software downloads or video conferencing links are required.

Discovery calls are intended for managing partners, partners, or executive legal administrators possessing direct insight into the firm's current client intake workflows and target family law cases. Scheduling or completing a discovery call does not obligate either party to enter into a service agreement. If both parties determine that a rebuild is mutually aligned, formal project parameters and pricing are established prior to contracting. If no fit exists, both parties part ways without obligation.

12. Fees, Payments, Invoicing & Taxes

Professional rebuild fees are quoted transparently on a fixed-scope basis following discovery and pre-build scoping. All fees are denominated and payable in United States Dollars (USD). Unless otherwise agreed in an executed service agreement, engagements require an initial deposit prior to build commencement, with the remaining balance due upon Day 4 delivery prior to final repository transfer.

All fees paid are non-refundable once development has commenced, reflecting the dedicated allocation of engineering personnel during the 4-day build process. The client is solely responsible for all applicable sales, use, excise, value-added, or other governmental taxes associated with the purchase of the Services, excluding taxes based on Cardinal Sites' net income.

13. Warranties & Workmanship Standards

Cardinal Sites warrants that it shall perform the Services in a professional, workmanlike manner consistent with prevailing commercial software development standards and Next.js best practices. The Site and all informational content published thereon are provided on an "AS-IS" and "AS-AVAILABLE" basis without warranties of any kind.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, CARDINAL SITES EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER EXPRESS, IMPLIED, STATUTORY, OR OTHERWISE, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE, NON-INFRINGEMENT, ACCURACY, FREEDOM FROM COMPUTER VIRUSES OR HARMFUL CODE, AND ANY WARRANTIES ARISING FROM A COURSE OF DEALING, USAGE, OR TRADE PRACTICE.

14. Limitation of Liability & Damages Waiver

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, IN NO EVENT SHALL CARDINAL SITES, ITS AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, CONTRACTORS, OR LICENSORS BE LIABLE TO YOU OR ANY THIRD PARTY UNDER ANY CONTRACT, TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE), STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHER LEGAL OR EQUITABLE THEORY FOR ANY INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, EXEMPLARY, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION LOST PROFITS, LOST REVENUE, LOST CLIENT RETAINERS, LOSS OF DATA, LOSS OF GOODWILL, WORK STOPPAGE, OR SYSTEM FAILURE, ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THESE TERMS, THE SITE, OR THE SERVICES, EVEN IF CARDINAL SITES HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING TO THE CONTRARY CONTAINED HEREIN, THE TOTAL AGGREGATE LIABILITY OF CARDINAL SITES TO YOU FOR ANY CAUSE WHATSOEVER AND REGARDLESS OF THE FORM OF THE ACTION, SHALL AT ALL TIMES BE LIMITED TO THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF FEES ACTUALLY PAID BY YOU TO CARDINAL SITES UNDER THE SPECIFIC STATEMENT OF WORK GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM DURING THE SIX (6) MONTH PERIOD IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO LIABILITY.

15. Mutual Indemnification

Client Indemnification: You agree to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless Cardinal Sites, its affiliates, officers, directors, agents, and employees from and against any and all third-party claims, liabilities, damages, losses, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees and court costs) arising out of or resulting from: (1) Any text, images, trademarks, or materials provided by the client for inclusion on the website; (2) Allegations that client-supplied content violates third-party intellectual property, privacy, or publicity rights; (3) Any claim that client-supplied copy violates State Bar advertising rules, attorney ethics standards, or regulatory disclosure mandates; or (4) The client's breach of these Terms.

Cardinal Sites Indemnification: Cardinal Sites agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the client law firm from and against any third-party claim alleging that the custom code authored exclusively by Cardinal Sites (excluding open-source libraries and client-supplied content) directly infringes any United States copyright or registered trademark, provided that the client promptly notifies Cardinal Sites in writing of such claim, grants sole control of the defense and settlement, and provides reasonable cooperation.

16. Term, Termination & Post-Termination

These Terms remain in full force and effect while you access the Site or engage our Services. Either party may terminate an uncommenced project prior to the start of the 4-day build process upon written notice. Following build commencement, either party may terminate for material breach if such breach remains uncured for five (5) business days following written notice.

Upon termination, the client shall pay Cardinal Sites for all work completed up to the effective date of termination. Provisions of these Terms which by their nature should survive termination shall survive, including without limitation Intellectual Property (as to delivered code), Scope Exclusions, Disclaimers, Limitation of Liability, Indemnification, and Governing Law.

17. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution

These Terms and any dispute, controversy, or claim arising out of or related to these Terms, the Site, or the Services shall be governed by, construed, and enforced in accordance with the laws of the United States of America, without regard to conflict of laws principles. Specific venue, jurisdiction, and dispute resolution mechanisms for client projects shall be as set forth in the applicable written service agreement executed between Cardinal Sites and the client; in the absence of a specific agreement, any legal action arising out of these Terms shall be instituted exclusively in a federal or state court of competent jurisdiction located in the United States.

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unlawful, void, or for any reason unenforceable, that provision shall be deemed severable from these Terms and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions. The failure of Cardinal Sites to exercise or enforce any right or provision of these Terms shall not operate as a waiver of such right or provision. These Terms, together with any executed statement of work or onboarding agreement, constitute the entire agreement between you and Cardinal Sites regarding the subject matter hereof.

18. Official Legal Notices & Contact Information

For questions regarding these Terms, to submit formal legal notices, or to discuss project terms, please contact Cardinal Sites via our official email address: