Advocate Terms of Service

1. Overview

These terms govern your participation as an advocate on the AdvocateIQ marketplace ("Platform"), operated by DFW Advocacy. By creating an advocate profile, you agree to these terms in full.

2. Independent Contractor Status

You are an independent contractor, not an employee, agent, or partner of DFW Advocacy or AdvocateIQ. You are solely responsible for:

• Your own tax obligations, including self-employment tax
• Maintaining any required professional licenses, certifications, or insurance
• The quality and accuracy of services you provide to families
• Compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local laws

AdvocateIQ does not control how, when, or where you perform your services. You set your own rates, schedule, and service area.

3. Consultation Fee & Platform Fee

You set your own consultation fee (minimum $50). The parent pays your consultation fee as a single amount. AdvocateIQ deducts a flat $25 platform fee plus standard Stripe processing fees (~2.9% + $0.30) from each consultation. You receive the remainder.

Example: You set a $150 consultation fee. The parent pays $150. After the $25 platform fee and ~$4.65 in Stripe processing, you receive approximately $120.35.

Payment is collected from the parent before the consultation is booked. You receive your payout via Stripe Connect. You must complete Stripe's onboarding process to receive payouts. Payout timing is governed by Stripe's standard terms.

AdvocateIQ reserves the right to modify the platform fee with 30 days' written notice.

4. Confidential Student Information

Through this platform, families may share their child's educational records with you, including IEPs, 504 Plans, evaluation reports, and related documents. You agree to:

• Keep all student information strictly confidential — do not share, copy, distribute, or retain these documents beyond what is necessary for the engagement
• Delete or destroy all copies of student documents within 30 days of engagement completion, unless the family provides written consent for longer retention
• Never use student information for marketing, training, research, or any purpose beyond the specific engagement
• Notify AdvocateIQ immediately if you become aware of any unauthorized access to or disclosure of student information

Families may revoke your access to their shared documents at any time through the platform. When access is revoked, you must delete all copies within 24 hours.

5. Code of Conduct

As an advocate on this platform, you agree to:

• Act in the best interest of the child and family at all times
• Represent your qualifications honestly — do not claim certifications, degrees, or experience you do not have
• Communicate respectfully with families, school personnel, and other advocates
• Never provide legal advice unless you are a licensed attorney — advocacy support and legal counsel are different services
• Disclose any conflicts of interest — including current or past employment with the family's school district
• Respond to families within 48 hours of initial contact through the platform
• Honor your commitments — if you accept an engagement, follow through. If you cannot continue, notify the family and AdvocateIQ promptly

6. Reviews and Ratings

After each engagement, families may leave a review and rating visible on your public profile. You may not:

• Offer incentives for positive reviews
• Retaliate against families who leave negative reviews
• Create fake reviews or ratings for yourself or others

AdvocateIQ reserves the right to remove reviews that violate our content policies, and to flag advocate profiles that consistently receive low ratings for internal review.

7. Account Suspension and Termination

AdvocateIQ may suspend or terminate your advocate account for:

• Violation of these terms or the Code of Conduct
• Consistently low ratings or unresolved family complaints
• Misrepresentation of qualifications
• Breach of student data confidentiality
• Inactivity for more than 12 months

You may deactivate your account at any time. Outstanding engagements must be completed or properly transitioned before deactivation.

8. Limitation of Liability

AdvocateIQ provides a marketplace connecting families with advocates. We do not guarantee the outcome of any advocacy engagement. We are not responsible for:

• The quality of services provided by advocates
• Disputes between advocates and families
• Decisions made by school districts or other educational institutions
• Loss of income resulting from account suspension or low ratings

9. Modifications

We may update these terms from time to time. Material changes will be communicated via email at least 14 days before taking effect. Continued use of the platform after changes take effect constitutes acceptance.

10. Contact

Questions about these terms? Contact us at support@advocateiq.ai.