This Liability Waiver and Release of Claims ("Waiver") is a legally binding agreement between you ("User," "you," "your") and NxtStps, LLC, an Illinois limited liability company, together with its members, managers, officers, employees, contractors, and agents (collectively, "NxtStps," "Company," "we," "us," or "our").

This Waiver is presented as Step 3 of the NxtStps consent flow. By clicking "I Agree and Begin," you acknowledge that you have also accepted the NxtStps Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, and that you now agree to the additional terms set out in this Waiver. All capitalized terms not defined here have the meanings given to them in the Terms of Use.

SECTION 1 — ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF NON-PROFESSIONAL STATUS

1.1 No Legal Advice or Legal Representation

User acknowledges and agrees that NxtStps:

(a) is not a law firm and does not employ attorneys in a legal services capacity; (b) does not provide legal advice, legal interpretation, or legal advocacy of any kind; (c) does not review submissions for legal sufficiency or compliance with any specific program's requirements; (d) does not apply law to User-specific facts or circumstances; and (e) does not act as a legal representative, legal advocate, or agent in any legal, administrative, or judicial matter.

No attorney-client relationship is created through use of the Platform under any circumstances.

1.2 No Medical, Clinical, or Therapeutic Services

User acknowledges that NxtStps is not a provider of medical, psychological, psychiatric, crisis-intervention, trauma therapy, or clinical services of any kind. The Platform's trauma-informed design features — including compassionate language, pacing controls, and the Survivor Safety Mode — are design features intended to reduce unnecessary distress during the application process. They do not constitute clinical care, crisis intervention, or therapeutic treatment.

1.3 No Guarantee of Eligibility or Outcomes

User acknowledges that NxtStps does not guarantee, predict, or represent that any application submitted through the Platform will be approved, awarded, or processed within any particular timeframe. All eligibility determinations are made exclusively by the relevant state administering agency. NxtStps has no role in and no influence over those determinations.

SECTION 2 — ASSUMPTION OF RISKS

User expressly understands, acknowledges, and agrees that use of the Platform to prepare and submit a crime victim compensation application involves inherent risks that NxtStps cannot eliminate. These risks include but are not limited to:

• Submission of incomplete or inaccurate information due to User error or misunderstanding of program requirements
• Denial, delay, or rejection of applications by the administering agency
• Adverse outcomes in benefit or compensation claims that are unrelated to the quality of the application
• Missed deadlines or procedural deficiencies arising from program rules that change or that the Platform's guidance does not fully reflect
• Technical errors in document formatting, upload, or transmission
• Misinterpretation of third-party program requirements by the User
• Inaccurate, outdated, or incomplete AI-generated suggestions that the User relies upon without independent verification
• Data entry, upload, or transmission errors introduced by the User

User voluntarily assumes all such risks, whether known or unknown at the time of accepting this Waiver, as inherent features of the application process and the nature of administrative benefit programs.

SECTION 3 — RELEASE OF CLAIMS

In consideration for NxtStps making the Platform available at no cost to Applicants, User hereby releases, waives, and forever discharges NxtStps from any and all claims, liabilities, damages, losses, demands, causes of action, and legal proceedings — whether known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, direct or indirect — arising out of or connected to Platform use, subject to the limitations stated in Section 3.7.

This release includes, without limitation, claims based on:

3.1 Negligence

User releases NxtStps from claims alleging ordinary negligence arising from:

• Guidance provided by the Platform's rules engine, AI systems, or informational content
• Processing or handling of User-provided information
• Generation of AI outputs, completeness assessments, or eligibility guidance
• Technical malfunctions, system errors, or service interruptions
• Documentation support functions
• Failure to warn of consequences of specific answers, omissions, or document choices

This release covers ordinary negligence only. It does not release NxtStps from claims arising from gross negligence or willful misconduct. See Section 3.7.

3.2 Unauthorized Practice of Law

User acknowledges and agrees that the Platform's guidance, rules engine logic, eligibility pre-screening, and AI-assisted features are administrative and informational in nature — not legal advice or legal services. User releases NxtStps from any claim asserting that the Platform's functionality constituted or contributed to unauthorized practice of law. User acknowledges that they have been clearly informed that NxtStps is not a law firm and does not provide legal services, and that they are proceeding with that understanding.

3.3 Reliance on Platform Content

User releases NxtStps from claims alleging that User relied to their detriment on:

• Information, guidance, or descriptions provided through the Platform
• AI-generated outputs, suggestions, or completeness assessments
• Workflow descriptions or eligibility pre-screening results
• Any representation about the Platform's capabilities

User acknowledges that independent verification of all Platform outputs before submission is required under the Terms of Use, and that NxtStps's liability for reliance claims is released to the extent such reliance occurred without independent verification.

3.4 Product Liability

User releases NxtStps from claims arising from:

• Software bugs, defects, or unexpected behavior
• Service outages or downtime during the application preparation process
• Data loss or corruption due to technical failure
• Failure of automated systems to perform as intended

3.5 Emotional Difficulty Associated with the Application Process

User acknowledges that completing documentation related to violent crime, injury, loss, or trauma may be emotionally difficult. The nature of crime victim compensation applications requires Users to describe traumatic events, review incident documentation, and engage with content that may surface difficult memories and emotions. This emotional difficulty is an inherent feature of the subject matter — not a consequence of Platform design or malfunction.

User agrees that NxtStps shall not be liable for emotional distress, psychological discomfort, or trauma responses arising from the nature of crime victim compensation documentation, the subject matter Users are required to address in their applications, or the process of revisiting traumatic events. This release does not apply to emotional distress claims arising from gross negligence or willful misconduct by NxtStps.

NxtStps has designed the Platform with trauma-informed principles — including compassionate language, pacing features, skip options, and Survivor Safety Mode — specifically to reduce unnecessary distress during the application process. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis at any point during your use of the Platform, please see Section 8.3 of this Waiver.

3.6 Failure to Identify Missing Documents

The Platform's document completeness validation feature is designed to assist Users in identifying commonly required documents. User releases NxtStps from claims alleging that the completeness validation feature failed to identify every document required by the specific program to which the User applied, recognizing that program requirements vary and change, and that the User retains sole responsibility for verifying that their submission is complete before filing.

3.7 Third-Party Agency Decisions

User acknowledges and agrees that NxtStps has no role in, no influence over, and no responsibility for decisions made by:

• State and local victim compensation programs
• Law enforcement agencies
• Courts and administrative tribunals
• Medical institutions and healthcare providers
• Victim assistance programs and social service agencies
• Any third-party recipient of User-directed submissions

User releases NxtStps from all claims arising from or related to the decisions, actions, delays, or errors of any of these third parties, including denial or reduction of any compensation claim.

3.8 Scope and Limitations of This Release

This release does not apply to and does not release NxtStps from:

• (a) Claims arising from NxtStps's gross negligence or willful misconduct;
• (b) Claims arising from NxtStps's intentional misrepresentation of the Platform's capabilities;
• (c) Claims that cannot be waived as a matter of applicable law;
• (d) NxtStps's obligations under VOCA, VAWA, and applicable victim confidentiality statutes; or
• (e) Any data breach or unauthorized disclosure of User information caused by NxtStps's failure to maintain reasonable security safeguards.

SECTION 4 — PROVIDER USERS COMPLETING THIS WAIVER

4.1 Advocates Acting on Behalf of Applicants

If you are a Provider user — an applicant advocate, case manager, or other authorized representative — completing this Waiver in the course of using the Platform on behalf of an Applicant, the following additional provisions apply:

• (a) You represent that you are authorized by your Organization and, where applicable, by the Applicant, to use the Platform on their behalf.
• (b) You acknowledge that this Waiver binds you in your capacity as a Provider user and does not substitute for or replace any waiver or consent obtained from or required of the Applicant.
• (c) You acknowledge that the Applicant's right to exercise data rights, request deletion, and make decisions about their application remains with the Applicant and cannot be overridden by your organizational role.
• (d) You agree that your use of the Platform on behalf of an Applicant is subject to all applicable confidentiality obligations under VOCA, VAWA, and applicable state law.

4.2 Organizational Responsibility

Organizations whose staff access the Platform as Provider users bear responsibility for ensuring that their staff members understand and comply with the terms of this Waiver, the Terms of Use, and all applicable confidentiality requirements. The Organization's acceptance of a licensing agreement with NxtStps constitutes the Organization's agreement to these obligations on behalf of its staff.

SECTION 5 — USER'S DUTY TO VERIFY

User acknowledges and agrees that NxtStps does not review, verify, approve, or certify any submission made through the Platform. User bears sole responsibility for:

• (a) independently reviewing all Platform outputs — including AI-generated suggestions, completeness assessments, and pre-filled fields — before signing, certifying, or submitting any document;
• (b) the accuracy and completeness of all information entered through the Platform;
• (c) ensuring that their submission complies with the specific requirements of the program to which they are applying;
• (d) understanding the eligibility criteria of the relevant program;
• (e) meeting all applicable filing deadlines; and
• (f) maintaining their own copies of all submitted documents.

Reliance on Platform outputs without independent verification is at the User's sole risk and is inconsistent with the Terms of Use. The Platform is a tool to assist in preparation — the User is the decision-maker and the signatory.

SECTION 6 — CROSS-REFERENCE TO TERMS OF USE

The following provisions, which are fully stated in the NxtStps Terms of Use accepted by User in Step 1 of the consent flow, are incorporated into this Waiver by reference and apply with equal force here. They are not restated in this document to avoid redundancy and potential inconsistency between the two documents. In the event of any conflict between a provision of this Waiver and a provision of the Terms of Use, the Terms of Use controls unless the Waiver provision is more protective of NxtStps.

By accepting this Waiver, User confirms that they have already accepted the Terms of Use and that the provisions listed above are known to them, understood, and agreed to.

SECTION 7 — NO WARRANTIES

The Platform is provided strictly "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind. NxtStps does not warrant:

• The accuracy, completeness, or currency of any content, guidance, or AI output
• The eligibility outcomes of any application prepared through the Platform
• The successful submission, acceptance, or processing of any document by a third-party agency
• The uninterrupted or error-free operation of the Platform at all times

These disclaimers apply in addition to and are consistent with the full warranty disclaimer stated in Terms of Use Section 15.

SECTION 8 — KNOWING AND VOLUNTARY AGREEMENT

8.1 Conspicuous Notice

User acknowledges that this Waiver contains material provisions that substantially limit User's rights and NxtStps's liability. User has been provided with the full text of this Waiver, has been required to scroll through it before acceptance, and has had the opportunity to review it at their own pace before clicking to agree.

8.2 Voluntary Consent

User affirms that they are accepting this Waiver:

• (a) voluntarily and without coercion, undue influence, or pressure of any kind;
• (b) with a reasonable opportunity to review the full text before accepting;
• (c) with the understanding that declining is an available option that will not result in discrimination or retaliation; and
• (d) after having been informed in plain language of the most important provisions of this Waiver before the full text was presented.

8.3 Age and Guardian Representation

User represents that:

• (a) they are 18 years of age or older; or
• (b) if they are under 18, a parent or legal guardian has reviewed this Waiver and is accepting it on their behalf in compliance with the Platform's minor consent protocols described in the Terms of Use.

This provision is limited to age and guardian authorization. NxtStps does not require users to represent their mental state or psychological capacity as a condition of accepting this Waiver.

8.4 Crisis Support

NxtStps recognizes that completing a crime victim compensation application can be emotionally difficult. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis at any point — before, during, or after using the Platform — please reach out for support:

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
• Emergency Services: Call 911

NxtStps is not a crisis support service. These resources are provided because your wellbeing matters, and you should not be alone in a difficult moment.

USER ACKNOWLEDGMENT

By clicking "I Agree and Begin," User confirms that they have:

• (a) read or had the opportunity to read this Waiver in full;
• (b) already accepted the NxtStps Terms of Use and Privacy Policy;
• (c) understood that this Waiver contains material limitations on their legal rights;
• (d) accepted this Waiver voluntarily, without coercion or undue influence;
• (e) confirmed that they are 18 or older, or that a parent or guardian is accepting on their behalf; and
• (f) understood that declining this Waiver means they will not be able to access the Platform but that such a decision will not result in discrimination or retaliation of any kind.

NxtStps, LLC · Chicago, Illinois · nxtstps.com · Confidential and Proprietary