Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Custody Note. Can't find what you need? Contact us.
Trial and licence
- How does the 30-day free trial work?
- Enter your email on the trial page and we'll send you a licence key instantly. Enter it in the app to unlock all features for 30 days. No credit card required.
- What happens after the trial expires?
- Your data is preserved. The app becomes read-only until you subscribe. Subscribe at any time to continue with full access.
- Can I get another trial?
- One trial per email address. If you've used a trial before, you'll need to subscribe to continue.
- Where do I enter my licence key?
- Open Custody Note, go to Settings, and enter the key when prompted. The app validates it online.
- How many devices can I use?
- One user licence lets you use the app on up to 2 devices at the same time. No per-seat charges.
Subscription and billing
- Can I switch between plans?
- Yes. Upgrade to Cloud Backup or downgrade to Standard at any time. Changes take effect at your next billing date.
- Can I cancel anytime?
- Yes. No lock-in periods. Cancel from your Lemon Squeezy account and your subscription ends at the current billing period.
- Do you offer discounts for longer commitments?
- Yes. Pay for 6 months and save 10%. Pay for 12 months and save 20%. See the pricing page for details.
- What payment methods do you accept?
- We use Lemon Squeezy for payments. They accept major credit and debit cards. VAT is handled automatically where applicable.
Cloud Backup
- What is Cloud Backup?
- Cloud Backup encrypts your database on your machine and uploads it to AWS S3 in London. Backups are tamper-proof for 90 days (Object Lock). Each subscriber's data is isolated.
- Can you read my backed-up data?
- No. Data is encrypted on your device before upload. We only ever see ciphertext. We cannot decrypt or read your data.
- How do I restore from cloud backup?
- Open Settings in Custody Note, go to Cloud Backup, and use the restore option. Select the backup you want. You'll need your recovery password if you set one.
- What if I don't subscribe to Cloud Backup?
- Your data stays on your computer with local encrypted backups every 2 minutes. You can also use an off-site folder (OneDrive, Dropbox) for extra safety. Without cloud backup, if your hard drive fails you could lose data — we warn you about this when you subscribe to Standard only.
Using the app
- Do I need internet to use the app?
- No. Custody Note works fully offline at any police station. Internet is only needed for licence validation and cloud backup uploads.
- Is my data safe during the trial?
- Yes. Local encrypted backups run every 2 minutes during the trial. Cloud backup is only available on the paid Cloud Backup plan.
- Does Custody Note support LAA billing codes?
- Yes. LAA outcome codes, stage reached, fee codes, time recording, and disbursements with VAT are built in. PDF export is ready for your firms and clients.
- Can I use Custody Note for multiple firms?
- Yes. Track which firm instructed each case, filter by firm for invoicing, and generate billing summaries per firm.