Terms of Engagement

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing this website and engaging the services of Advocate Tatum E. Jardien, you acknowledge that you have read, understood and agree to be bound by these Terms of Engagement. If you do not agree with any part of these terms, you must not use this website or instruct this practice.

2. Nature of Services

Advocate Tatum E. Jardien operates a trust account practice registered with the Legal Practice Council of South Africa. The practice provides legal consultation, contract drafting and review, estate administration, compliance advisory and related fiduciary services to clients throughout South Africa.

All services are rendered subject to the rules and regulations of the Legal Practice Council, the National Bar Council of South Africa and applicable South African legislation. Nothing on this website constitutes legal advice until a formal attorney-client relationship has been established.

3. Attorney-Client Relationship

No attorney-client relationship is created by browsing this website, submitting an enquiry or booking a preliminary consultation. A formal retainer is only established once we have confirmed acceptance of your instructions in writing and you have agreed to the applicable fee structure.

All communications within an established attorney-client relationship are protected by legal professional privilege in terms of South African law, subject to statutory exceptions.

4. Fees and Payment

Fees are quoted in South African Rand and include VAT unless otherwise stated. Consultation fees are payable at the time of booking or prior to the scheduled consultation. Matter-based fees are billed in accordance with the fee quote accepted by the client.

Payment may be made by electronic funds transfer, debit card or credit card through the secure client portal. Funds held in trust are managed in accordance with the Attorneys Act and Legal Practice Council rules governing trust accounts.

Outstanding fees may result in the suspension of services and the exercise of a lien over client documents where permitted by law.

5. Confidentiality and Data Protection

We are committed to protecting your personal information in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA). Detailed information about how we collect, use and safeguard your data is set out in our Privacy Policy.

Video consultations are conducted over encrypted channels. Consultation recordings, where made with your consent, are stored securely and are never shared with third parties except as required by law or for professional indemnity purposes.

6. Limitation of Liability

While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information on this website, no representation or warranty is given as to its completeness or correctness. Website content is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice tailored to any specific situation.

To the extent permitted by South African law, Advocate Tatum E. Jardien shall not be liable for any loss or damage arising from reliance on website content, the use of online consultation platforms or any third-party service integrated with our practice management systems.

7. Intellectual Property

All content on this website, including text, images, logos and downloadable materials, is the intellectual property of Advocate Tatum E. Jardien or licensed to the practice. Unauthorised reproduction, distribution or modification of any content is prohibited. Documents drafted for clients remain subject to the ownership and usage terms agreed in the retainer letter.

8. Third-Party Links

This website may contain links to external resources, including the Legal Practice Council and National Bar Council of South Africa. These links are provided for convenience and do not imply endorsement. We are not responsible for the content, privacy practices or availability of third-party websites.

9. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These Terms of Engagement are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa. Any dispute arising from these terms or the services rendered by this practice shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the South African courts.

10. Amendments

We reserve the right to amend these terms at any time. Material changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Continued use of the website or our services after such changes constitutes acceptance of the revised terms.

11. Contact

For questions about these Terms of Engagement, please contact the practice: