Frequently Asked Questions

I handle trademark clearance and federal trademark filing; North Carolina LLC formation and governance; contract review; business agreements, such as nondisclosure, client-service, and independent-contractor agreements; privacy notices and terms for small-business websites; and a focused compliance diagnostic on one regulatory topic. A new client's first meeting is the 45-minute Initial Consultation at $199; later consultations are 60 minutes at $250 each.

For one ordinary word mark: a documented search of federal, state, and common-law sources, a dated written assessment, and a meeting to decide next steps. Before I accept, I confirm the mark, the owner, the goods or services, the geography, and the search scope. No search can guarantee availability, registration, or freedom from every claim.

No. Filing is a separate, optional step that you authorize after clearance. It covers one ordinary application for one mark in one class, including routine fixes the Trademark Office asks for, its official letters, and tracking deadlines while I handle your application.

Clearance: $750 for one ordinary word mark.

Optional federal application: $750, charged only if you separately authorize it after clearance.

Government charges are separate and rechecked at filing.

Substantive refusals, reconsideration or appeal, opposition, cancellation, and other contested proceedings. A later use filing may need a separate engagement.

One adult founder forming a new, single-member, member-managed North Carolina LLC. Before I accept, I confirm fit: the person, the business, ownership, and tax questions. Two founders starting out together can use the separate two-founder package.

Yes, through a separate two-founder package: $1,500 for both founders, plus government charges. It forms a new North Carolina LLC and writes an operating agreement for the two of you. Both of you must live in North Carolina, and the business must be based here. I represent both of you together, with written consent from each of you. If you have not agreed on the basics, or either of you wants a lawyer on your side, each of you should have your own lawyer. Three or more owners, investors, and businesses owned by another business are not included.

• A planning conference and a written plan.
• A review of the name and the registered agent and address.
• One NC articles filing, with a check of the state record.
• Tailored initial governance documents, with contribution and ownership records.
• Help getting an EIN after formation, with follow-up.
• A company record book: signed originals by mail, plus a digital copy.
• A memo on startup obligations.
• A handoff meeting.

$850, plus government charges and any outside costs you approve.

Companies with more than one owner, professional or regulated businesses, foreign-qualification or foreign-ownership matters, and repairs to an existing company are outside this service; two founders can use the separate two-founder package. So are tax elections, registered-agent service, annual-report filing, trademark work, and bank approval.

No. For trademarks, government charges are separate and rechecked at filing. For LLC formation, government charges and any outside costs you approve are separate.

1. You email me or use the inquiry form.
2. I review fit, conflicts, and options before accepting anything.
3. If I can help, you get a written engagement agreement. You sign it electronically.
4. You pay online by card or bank transfer (eCheck), from a secure payment link or invoice I email you.
5. I provide the services set out in the engagement agreement.

Typically, a clearance search and written assessment take about 1 week. A federal application is filed about 1 week after you approve it. An NC LLC is formed in 1 to 2 weeks. These are typical times, not promises. Government review after filing takes its own time.

No. KIWI works with founders and businesses based in North Carolina.

To contact KIWI, email hello@getkiwi.me or use the inquiry form. Your name and a short description of what you need is enough. Please keep confidential details out of your first message. Inquiries do not establish an attorney-client relationship.

Only after I review fit, conflicts, and options. I take on a matter only through a written engagement agreement, which you sign electronically.

Online by card or bank transfer (eCheck), from a secure payment link or invoice I email you. Any advance for work not yet done is held in the firm's trust account until it is earned. I don't take payment through this website, and I don't accept paper checks.

Please keep confidential details out of your first message. Inquiries do not establish an attorney-client relationship. I have no secure file or message exchange, so please don't email Social Security numbers, account numbers, or medical records.

No. Visiting the site, emailing me, or sending the inquiry form does not make you my client. I take on a matter only through a signed written engagement agreement.