CLIENT TERMS AND CONDITIONS

(DIVORCE COACHING)

 

Before purchasing coaching sessions or programmes from Sophie Buck Divorce Coach, please ensure you read the following terms and conditions carefully. These terms outline the agreement between you (the Client) and the Coach and should be fully understood prior to the start of any session or course. If you have any questions or concerns, please raise them before your coaching begins.

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1. Initial Consultation

You may be offered a complimentary 20-minute online consultation. This is an opportunity to discuss your needs—no coaching will be provided during this time. Based on the information you share, an estimate of the number of sessions required may be offered. Please note, this is a guideline only and may be subject to change.

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2. Booking & Payments

Full payment must be received at least 48 hours before your scheduled session.
If payment is not received within this timeframe, the session will be cancelled and may be offered to another client. It is your responsibility to pay the session fees before each scheduled session and your payment acts as confirmation of the appointment booking.

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3. Cancellation & Rescheduling

If you need to cancel or reschedule a session, please provide as much notice as possible. A minimum of 48 hours' notice is required via WhatsApp, email or phone call. Clients may reschedule a one-to-one coaching session without penalty if more than 48 hours advance notice is provided. No refund will be given for termination of a course once it has commenced.
Cancellations made with less than 48 hours' notice are non-refundable. By booking any service you are agreeing to be bound by this cancellation policy. 

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4. Refunds

Refunds will not be issued for cancellations made within 48 hours of a scheduled session. Fees reflect the time, preparation, and professional expertise involved and therefore refunds are not issued for any sessions that have been paid for and attended.
Where a package has been booked and paid for in full in advance, if you choose to discontinue before completing all sessions, a pro-rata refund will be issued after deduction of the full standard rate for any sessions already attended.

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5. Session Fees

The fees for coaching, coaching packages and courses are as advertised on the website and booking page. Fees may be subject to periodic review and change. Payment must be made in full at the time of booking.

6. Payment Methods

Payment can be made via bank transfer, credit, or debit card. Payment by cash or cheque can only be accepted by prior agreement.

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7. Contact Between Sessions

All contact between sessions will be via telephone, email, or messaging.

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8. Attending Your Session

All sessions will take place on Zoom unless otherwise agreed with Sophie Buck. If you are running late for a booked session, please advise me via email or WhatsApp as soon as possible. Unless we have agreed otherwise, I will wait 15 mins before terminating our session and considering it a missed/forfeited appointment. 

If you do arrive late, whilst I will always try to provide you with a full session, this cannot be guaranteed due to other bookings. Unfortunately I am unable to make up time at another session.

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9. Session Outcomes

While every effort will be made to support your goals, no guarantees can be made regarding the outcome. In agreeing to work on the issues presented, I will use my best efforts to work towards your desired outcome but cannot guarantee a resolution. Results will always vary depending on your individual circumstances and commitment.

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10. Standards of Behaviour

During our coaching sessions, you will be treated with respect and professionalism at all times.  You agree not to attend sessions under the influence of alcohol or recreational drugs, except any medications lawfully prescribed by your doctor.  All violent, abusive, or inappropriate behaviour may result in immediate termination of the session and future sessions without refund.
 

11. Confidentiality

All information received from you will be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR).

All sessions and communications are confidential, except under the following circumstances:

• You give consent for information to be shared.

• There is a risk of harm to yourself or others.

• In cases involving fraud, crime, or minors.

• Where required by law or court order.
   

In such cases, I may share information with relevant professionals, always keeping your identity confidential unless legally obligated otherwise. By booking coaching with Sophie Buck, you consent to anonymised information being used for ongoing professional supervision and training. Where coaching is conducted in a group format, the Client agrees to maintain the confidentiality of all information communicated to the Client by the Coach and other Clients. Calls to Sophie Buck Divorce Coach may be recorded for training and quality purposes.

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12. Liability & Indemnity

Under no circumstances will Sophie Buck Accredited Divorce Coach & McKenzie Friend be liable for any damages, including without limitation, direct, indirect, incidental, special, punitive, consequential, or other damages (including without limitation lost profits, lost revenues, or similar economic loss), whether in contract, tort, or otherwise, arising out of the advice or information provided to you during professional services provided by Sophie Buck. In addition, I agree to defend, indemnify, and hold Sophie Buck harmless from and against any and all claims, losses, liabilities, damages and expenses (including legal fees) arising out of your participation in the professional services.

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13. Governing Law

These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.

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14. Updates

Terms and conditions may be updated periodically without notice. Please review them if returning after a break in service.

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15. Data Protection

Your data is handled according to my Privacy Policy, in compliance with UK data protection law. Booking a session signifies your acceptance of this policy.

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16. Concerns & Complaints

If you have concerns about your coaching experience, please speak to me directly. I will do my best to resolve any issues promptly and professionally.

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17. Statement of Understanding

By booking a session, you confirm that:

• You understand the scope of the coaching offered.

• You accept that outcomes are not guaranteed.
  You acknowledge coaching is not a substitute for medical or psychological treatment.

• You agree to participate actively and responsibly in the coaching process.

• You may terminate coaching at any time.

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Please do not book an appointment if you do not agree to these terms and conditions.

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CLIENT TERMS AND CONDITIONS

(MCKENZIE FRIEND)

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Last updated: October 2025

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Welcome to Sophie Buck McKenzie Friend offering friendly, professional support for parents and individuals navigating family court and separation. Please take a few minutes to read these Terms of Service. They outline how I work, what I can and can’t offer, and how your information and payments are handled.

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1. About My Service

I’m a McKenzie Friend based near Stratford-upon-Avon, supporting people who are representing themselves in private family law proceedings, including child arrangements and related court matters.

I am not a solicitor or barrister, and I do not provide legal advice. My role is to guide, prepare, and support you helping you feel confident and organised throughout your case.

All decisions you make are your own responsibility, as are the decisions made by the court or any other parties involved.

If you require specific legal advice about your case, you should seek help from a qualified and regulated solicitor. You are free to do this at any time while working with me.

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2. Initial Consultation

I offer a free 20-minute phone or online consultation. This is an opportunity to talk through your situation, explore your options, and understand how I can support you.

This call is not legal advice and does not create a formal client agreement. Any actions you take as a result of our chat are your own responsibility.

Calls to Sophie Buck McKenzie Friend may be recorded for training and quality purposes.

 

3. Starting Work Together

Once you confirm in writing (usually by email) that you’d like to go ahead, you agree to these Terms of Service, along with my Privacy Policy and Confidentiality Policy.

I reserve the right to pause or end support if it becomes clear that I’m not the right person to continue assisting you for example, in cases involving safeguarding, ethical, or criminal concerns. If this happens, I’ll explain my reasons and, where possible, signpost you to other appropriate support.

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4. Fees and Payments

Before any work begins, we’ll agree in writing on:

• The services I’ll provide

• The cost and payment structure

• Any timescales or milestones
   

If additional work is requested (for example, new documents or court appearances beyond what was agreed), I’ll let you know in advance of any extra charges.

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• Payment requests are issued at key stages as your case progresses.

• All fees are payable in advance directly via PayPal or bank transfer.

• Court attendance fees must be paid at least 3 working days before the hearing.

• Late payments may incur 5% monthly interest and collection costs may be added to the balance due.

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If you choose to cancel my services, please notify me in writing. All work completed up to that point remains payable, and there is a £100 cancellation fee for any confirmed court bookings.

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Additional Costs

Travel expenses and third-party costs (for example, court fees, expert reports, or interpreters) are not included in my fees and remain the responsibility of the client.

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Court Attendance

Attendance at court is subject to availability. While I’ll always try to accommodate changes, hearings may sometimes be rearranged at short notice or clash with other commitments. If I’m unable to attend due to illness or a change in court scheduling, I’ll help you find another McKenzie Friend with suitable experience, and any pre-paid attendance fees will be refunded.

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5. Mentoring and Divorce Coaching

If you are working with me as a divorce coach or mentor, please note that this service is designed to help you reflect, plan, and make informed decisions.
I do not make decisions for you or provide legal or professional advice. You are responsible for your own choices and actions following our sessions.

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6. Confidentiality and Safeguarding

Your privacy matters deeply to me. I’m registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and comply fully with GDPR. All information you share is treated as confidential and stored securely. There are, however, a few exceptions where I may need to share information with relevant professionals:

• If I believe a child is at risk of significant harm

• If there’s a serious risk of harm to you or another person

• If a crime has been or is likely to be committed

In such cases, I have a legal and ethical duty to act. If this happens, our professional relationship would end immediately, and I would not continue to offer support on the case.

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7. Website and Online Resources

The information on my website (www.sophie-buck.com) is for general guidance only. It should not be taken as legal advice. While I do my best to ensure all information is accurate and current, I cannot guarantee it will always reflect the latest legal developments. Use of the website is at your own risk. I accept no liability for actions taken based on its content or any errors or omissions.

Some pages include links to external websites for your convenience. I do not endorse these sites and cannot be responsible for their accuracy or content.

All website materials including logo, design, and written content are owned by me and may not be reproduced without permission.

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8. Governing Law

These Terms of Service are governed by the laws of England and Wales.

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Contact

If you have any questions about these terms or how I work, please get in touch: sophie@sophie-buck.com

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