for the Use and Submission of Services through LegalMasters.bg Platform
1. General Provisions
These General Terms and Conditions regulate the relationship between natural and legal persons using the website www.legalmasters.bg and the website administrators (hereinafter referred to as LegalMasters.bg or “the Platform”). They also regulate the terms for requesting and performing legal services offered through this website, which are not subject to a separate contract between the client-attorney/law firm.
By using the website and the services of LegalMasters.bg, you agree that these general terms and conditions are binding on you, and you should abide by them.
1.1. Identification
The website www.legalmasters.bg is operated, maintained, and managed by “LegalMasters – Nedeva and Yordanova” – an attorney partnership established under Article 52 of the Attorney Act, registered according to Decision No. 3/21.01.2020 of the Sofia Bar Council, registered with the Unified Register of the Bar under personal number 3600016310. The registered office and address of the attorney partnership are in Sofia, 15 Petar Parchevich Str., Floor 4. It is registered with the BULSTAT register at the Registry Agency under No. 177428160. It is not registered under the Value Added Tax Act.
Partners in the partnership are attorney at law Zhenya Nedkova Nedeva, a member of the Sofia Bar Association, personal attorney number 1900599410, and attorney Mirena Emilova Yordanova, a member of the Sofia Bar Association, with a personal attorney number 1200555610. For certain legal services, the partnership collaborates with other attorneys and the relevant information about them is published in the respective section of the website.
Contact Information:
Mailing address: Sofia 1000, 15 Petar Parchevich Str., Floor 4. Email address: contact@legalmasters.bg Contact phone: 089 30 50 449 Office working hours: Weekdays – 09:00 to 18:00.
Bank information (as of 28.02.2023):
IBAN: BG39BPBI79421200041092 BIC/SWIFT: BPBIBGSF Bank: “Eurobank Bulgaria” AD Account holder: Attorney Partnership “LegalMasters – Nedeva and Yordanova”
1.2. Regulators
The practising of law is regulated by the Attorney Act, the Code of Ethics of the Attorney and the relevant procedural laws.
The law activity of each attorney is supervised by the respective bar association, which they are a member of.
In relationships with users in the sense of the Consumer Protection Act and when processing personal data, the activities realized via the Platform are regulated by the Consumer Protection Commission and the Commission for Personal Data Protection.
Each of the attorneys practising through the LegalMasters.bg platform has valid “Professional Liability” insurance for the protection of the clients whom they are in a contract relationship with.
1.3. Platform Functionalities
The LegalMasters.bg platform provides users and clients with the following functionalities:
a. To be informed about the legal practice and the areas of activity, which the lawyers of LegalMasters.bg work in and the services provided through the platform.
b. To be informed about publications on legal issues placed in the Blog section of the website.
c. To calculate by themselves the fees and expenses projected for legal cases, transactions, and procedures through free legal calculators placed on the website.
d. To submit inquiries for services through the website’s contact form, and the published email address and phone number as well.
e. To download blank forms and documents of legal character;
f. To schedule an appointment for a paid personal legal consultation, to be held in person or through a telephone or video call with a lawyer offering this option.
g. To submit upon registration a request for a legal service offered on the website by filling in pre-defined forms and/or providing data and documents relevant to the case.
LegalMasters.bg does not provide software services for filling out, generating, or creating legal documents by technical means. All individual legal services of LegalMasters.bg are provided by an attorney, considering the specifics of each case, applicable law, and client requirements.
1.4. Conditions of Registration
Upon registration, the user undertakes to provide accurate and up-to-date data and to promptly update it in case of any changes. Once the respective username and password for access are entered on the website, the electronic statements are deemed to be made by the person whose data has been entered into the user profile. At any time the user has the right to discontinue the exploitation of the services provided on the website. Upon explicit request of the user, the platform removes the user profile and deletes the corresponding access password.
2. Services Provided through LegalMasters.bg
The platform offers the opportunity to request individual legal services for a fee remotely. The platform also provides free functionalities with open access.
2.1. Paid Individual Legal Services Include:
a. Services of a Fixed Attorney Fee – in such cases the client enters into a distance contract upon request, obligating the client to pay the fee due for the service, and the attorney to perform the legal service, provided that the fee has been paid and other conditions for the requested performance are met.
b. Services Requiring the Preparation of an Offer – in such cases, the client does not enter into a distance contract upon request but submits a request for the preparation of an individual offer. In this case, after individual negotiation between the client and the attorney, an individual contract between them might be concluded and these general terms and conditions should not apply to these relations.
2.2. Free Functionalities Include:
a. Ability to download blank forms and documents – this functionality aims to facilitate users in situations where their use is appropriate. By using them, the user agrees that these documents have not been prepared according to the specific case, and they are used at the risk of the client and their entire responsibility.
b. Legal calculators for calculating fees and expenses – these functionalities aim to inform website users in advance about the estimated fees and expenses they would incur in various legal actions and procedures, such as the fee for a civil case with material interest, the notary fee for transactions, or the fee of a private bailiff for debt collection. These functionalities are developed on assignment for LegalMasters.bg, and by using them, the user agrees that they are created without reference to all the specifics of their particular case and that the calculations might not be accurate and up-to-date due to the changing regulatory framework, hence they are used at their own risk and their entire responsibility. It is also possible for the specific service provider, notary, or private bailiff to charge additional fees at their discretion based on the features of the case.
c. Access to content – publications, blog articles, comments, and other materials reflecting the personal views and professional opinions of certain attorneys associated with the platform and do not constitute legal advice for individuals.
2.3. All content posted on LegalMasters.bg is copyrighted, and “LegalMasters” is a protected trademark. Their use is only allowed with the prior permission of the author/trademark holder. The opinions and documents provided through the LegalMasters.bg platform are subject to copyright. The requesting client may use them solely for his particular purposes, for which they were requested and non-exclusively.
3. Procedure for Request, Payment and Performance of Services. Right of Withdrawal.
3.1. For Fixed-fee Services, the Following Procedure Applies:
a. Service Request – a request can be made by any user – an adult natural person personally or as a representative of a legal entity. When requesting, the user must provide data in special forms on the site and depending on the specifics of the service, some of the fields of the forms are mandatory. In the event the user for any reason does not wish to provide the mandatory information, the request cannot be completed or executed through the site, in which case a request can be sent through the contact form on the site or by phone or email. The user must fill in the data in the request form correctly and accurately, otherwise, the platform shall not be held liable for the reproduction of erroneous data in the documents drawn up in the execution of the request and for any damage that might be incurred by the user as a result. Sending a request for the service is equivalent to concluding a remote contract for legal protection and assistance with the Attorney Partnership “LegalMasters – Nedeva and Yordanova.”
b. Payment of the Service – the client pays the attorney fee in their preferred method, which is offered by the platform at the time of the request. If the client chooses a payment method that cannot be completed through the platform simultaneously with the submission of the request (such as payment via bank transfer), the client shall make payment within 7 days of the request. Otherwise, upon the expiry of the period above, the service contract shall be deemed to have been terminated due to the fault of the user, for which the platform may notify the user. Still, it shall have no obligation to do so. By the time the payment is received, Legal Partnership “LegalMasters – Nedeva & Yordanova” shall not be obliged to start performing the service.
c. Contact with the User – a representative of the platform contacts the user to clarify the details of the service and to provide necessary assistance on the part of the user to perform the service. The contact shall be made on the day of the request, and if the request is made before the end of the working hours or during non-working hours and therefore cannot be processed, it shall be made within the next working day.
d. Performance of the Legal Service – the performance shall be deemed completed when the activities specified in the conditions for the execution of the specific service have been realized. For each service, these activities are set out in the “Our Commitment” section of the individual service page, and the user is deemed to have read and agreed to their nature and scope when submitting the request. Services involving the preparation of documents and opinions shall be deemed to have been performed upon sending the prepared documents to the client, regardless of when and how the client will use these documents or opinions in relations with third parties, individuals, legal entities, or government authorities.
3.2. For Services Requiring the Preparation of an Offer, the Following Procedure Shall Apply:
a. Request to Receive an Offer – a request can be made by any user – an adult natural person personally or as a representative of a legal entity. When requesting, the user should provide data in special forms on the website depending on the specifics of the service, some of the form fields being mandatory. Submitting a request in this case should not be deemed equal to a remote contract for legal assistance and support. By the submission of the request to the Attorney Partnership “LegalMasters – Nedeva and Yordanova,” no other obligations shall arise for them except the obligation to contact the user and, based on information and data filled, to prepare an individual offer according to the legal and factual complexity of the case.
b. Contact with the User – a representative of the platform contacts the user to clarify and supplement the information provided. The contact is made on the day of the request, and if the request is made before the end of the working hours or during non-working hours and cannot be examined, it is made within the next working day.
c. Preparation of an Individual Offer – based on the information provided, the user receives an individual offer and the parties can enter into negotiations and conclude a separate contract for legal protection and assistance. In this case, these General Terms and Conditions shall apply only to the extent that they regulate the current procedure, and the relationship between the parties shall be regulated by the individual legal protection and assistance contract.
3.3. Any individual using the platform as a consumer within the meaning of the Consumer Protection Act has the right to withdraw from a requested service within 14 days from the date of its request. This applies if the execution of the service has not started yet. In this case, the platform refunds all amounts paid by the individual. The moment of commencement of the execution varies and is assessed for each specific service according to its execution method. The client-consumer shall be deemed informed and accepted that after the commencement of the execution of the service, they have no right to withdraw from the contract within the meaning of the Consumer Protection Act. The withdrawal from the service should be explicit and unambiguous and made in writing. This can be done at the physical address of the office or via email at contact@legalmasters.bg. In case an individual uses the platform for their commercial or professional activity, and as a representative of a legal entity as well, they do not have this option.
4. Rights and Obligations of the Parties
4.1. Attorneys Working through LegalMasters.bg:
a. They advise and represent their clients competently, diligently, conscientiously, and promptly, strictly adhering to the ethical rules for the practice of the legal profession.
b. They perform the assigned services within the timeframe specified on the individual service page or within another appropriate timeframe, after the necessary information for the performance of the service has been provided and upon advance payment of the attorney’s fee.
c. They inform the client about the progress of the assigned service and, upon request, answer questions posed by the client regarding the service/protection being conducted.
d. They safeguard and promptly account for client funds provided for the performance of the assigned work (funds for state, notarial, and other fees, guarantees, deposits of court assessors, travel and mission expenses, and other expenses inherent to the specific service).
e. They prevent from disclosure of any confidential information related to the commercial and other activities of the client revealed on the occasion of or concerning the performance of the legal protection contract.
f. They have the right to refuse or terminate the performance of a service when they or their associates/employees do not have the necessary qualifications and/or legal capacity, in cases when the client does not provide the necessary assistance for the performance of the service, in cases when the client delays the payment due for the attorney’s fee or expenses, if they assess that they cannot perform the service due to lack of sufficient time and due to special requirements of the current Bulgarian or European legislation as well. In case the attorney’s fees or expenses amounts have already been paid by the client, they are refunded, and in case any part of the work has been performed, the payment for the unperformed part is refunded.
4.2. Clients, Users of LegalMasters.bg:
a. They undertake to provide LegalMasters.bg with all the information and documents necessary for the performance of the service and to provide the necessary personal or institutional assistance for its performance, including acknowledging the receipt of documents and any communication from the attorneys working through LegalMasters.bg when such confirmation is requested.
b. They are obliged to strictly follow the instructions of the attorneys from LegalMasters.bg regarding the necessity to perform certain actions or refrain from certain actions when necessary.
c. They undertake to pay all attorney’s fees and expenses necessary for the completion of the assigned work on time. This includes funds for state, notarial, and other fees, guarantees, deposits of court assessors, travel and mission expenses, and other expenses inherent to the specific service.
d. They have the right to receive information about the progress and development of the assigned services and the likely timeframe for their completion.
e. They have the right to receive back from the attorney the original documents provided for the performance of the services.
f. They have the right to withdraw from the performance of the service, and in case of withdrawal after the commencement of the performance, they owe the attorney’s fee for it.
g. They are informed that by commissioning the legal work, attorneys in no way promise or guarantee its successful completion with a favourable act for the client or the achievement of a specific result or success desired by the client.
5. Liability and Limits
5.1. Attorney Partnership “LegalMasters – Nedeva and Yordanova”, as the performer of the services of LegalMasters.bg, is responsible to its clients for the accurate and conscientious performance of the assigned work through the platform. This includes the work of its associated attorneys and assistants.
5.2. LegalMasters.bg shall not be liable, including for damages incurred or lost profits, when:
a. Activities and services cannot be performed due to delay or non-cooperation by the client.
b. Activities and services cannot be performed due to delay or refusal of assistance by a third party – notary, bank, administrative authority, etc.
c. The client has provided incorrect or incomplete data when filling out the request or communicating with the attorney. Provided false, incomplete, or misleading information, or intentionally or unintentionally withheld information, data, or documents that are relevant to the performance of the service.
d. The client has not provided within the time limit the necessary expenses for the performance of the service or at the request of the attorney, including funds for state, notarial, and other fees, guarantees, deposits of court assessors, or other expenses inherent to the specific service.
e. The client has not followed the instructions given by the attorney for actions or inactions regarding the performance of the service.
f. Access to the platform or part of the services and functionalities is completely or partially suspended.
g. It is impossible to provide the services due to circumstances beyond their control – force majeure, accidents, actions or inactions of third parties, etc.
h. An adverse act or decision has been issued for the client by an administrative or judicial/arbitration body.
In cases under letters a), b), d), and e), the attorney partnership shall not be liable for reimbursement of attorney’s fee, and in cases under letters c), d), and e), in addition to not being liable for reimbursement of the fee, the partnership shall be entitled to claim an additional fee for the re-performance of the service, determined according to the specific case.
6. Final Provisions
6.1. The Platform may, at its sole discretion, amend these General Terms and Conditions by publishing them on www.legalmasters.bg, and the amendments shall be effective immediately upon publication.
6.2. The provisions of the legislation in force in the Republic of Bulgaria shall apply to all outstanding issues.
6.3. Any disputes arising in the relationship between clients and users on the one hand, and the Platform on the other shall be resolved amicably and by mutual agreement. In extreme cases and in the event of failure to reach an agreement, the dispute may be referred to the competent court in the city of Sofia.
These General Terms and Conditions were adopted by Legal Partnership “Nedeva and Yordanova” on April 16, 2020, and were amended on February 28, 2023.