§ 8-19I-3 — Memorialization of Payment Terms; Disclosure

A person seeking to receive compensation for advising or assisting any individual with any veterans benefits matter, before rendering any services, shall do both of the following:
(1) Memorialize all terms regarding the individual’s payment of fees for services rendered in a written agreement, signed by both parties.
(2)a. Provide the following disclosure, both orally and in writing:
“This business is not sponsored by, or affiliated with, the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, or any other federally chartered veterans service organization. Other organizations, including, but not limited to, the Alabama Department of Veterans Affairs, your local county veterans service agency, and other federally chartered veterans service organizations, may be able to provide you with this service free of charge. Products or services offered by this business are not necessarily endorsed by any of these organizations. You may qualify for other veterans benefits beyond the benefits for which you are receiving services here.”
b. The written disclosure shall appear in at least 12-point font and shall appear in a readily noticeable and identifiable place in the person’s agreement with the individual seeking services.
c. The individual must verbally acknowledge understanding of the oral disclosure and must sign the document in which the written disclosure appears.
d. The person offering services shall retain a copy of the written disclosure while providing veterans benefits services for compensation to the individual and for at least one year after the date on which the service relationship terminates.

Legislative History

(Act 2025-456, §3.)