You signed up before the Zolvit rebrand, your assigned CA changed twice, and there is a trademark mid-objection sitting in someone’s queue. Here is exactly how we get you out cleanly — without losing a filing or a TM application date.
Timeline
You
Us
Shared
Kick-off call & intake
Share your Vakilsearch dashboard login (read-only is fine), latest filing receipts, and the email of your last named point of contact. We assign your FilingLab CA the same day.
Assignment-release notice to Vakilsearch
We draft the assignment-release form (or the email equivalent — Zolvit accepts both post-rebrand) and CC their support@zolvit.com plus your account manager. NoC requested within 3 working days.
Port pending filings
For anything in-flight at Vakilsearch (a GSTR-3B due next week, a DIR-12 they uploaded but did not file, an AOC-4 with rejection memos) — we either let them finish it or we take it over depending on which side has the SRN.
Trademark applications & mid-objection cases
If you have a TM in examination or objection, we file TM-M (request for change of attorney) with the Trade Marks Registry. Original filing date is preserved. We attach Form 18 (vakalatnama) and pay Rs.900 govt fee.
Dashboard, document vault & first compliance run
Your books, GST credentials, DSC tokens (logical handover), and historical filings sit in your FilingLab dashboard. Your CA runs a 30-minute walkthrough of pending items and the next 90-day calendar.
Vakilsearch final invoice reconciliation
We help you reconcile their final invoice — particularly the common dispute of pro-rata refund for annual plans cancelled mid-cycle. Most customers recover 40-60% of the unused portion.
Pre-migration checklist
Most items are 60 seconds to find. We start the migration faster if you have these ready.
Vakilsearch / Zolvit dashboard login (or read-only invite)
Where:vakilsearch.com or zolvit.com → My Account → Settings → Add user
Last 12 months of filing receipts (GSTR, ITR, ROC)
Where:Dashboard → Filings tab → Download all (or email support if archived)
Trademark application numbers (if any)
Where:Dashboard → Trademarks → Application detail page → top-right TM number
Name of your last assigned CA / advocate
Where:Most recent service email signature, or dashboard → Team
Government login passwords (GST, MCA, Income Tax)
Where:Originally shared with Vakilsearch — if they did not pass back, we file Form GST PCT-05 to authorise us directly
Last paid invoice (for pro-rata refund claim)
Where:Dashboard → Billing → Download invoice PDF
Pending notice copies (if any)
Where:Email from Vakilsearch CA — usually with subject “Notice received” or “Action required”
Draft and send the assignment-release form to Zolvit/Vakilsearch with the legally correct wording
TM-M (Request for change of attorney) at the Trade Marks Registry, including vakalatnama (Form 18)
Form GST PCT-05 if your old CA refuses to release GST OTP custody
Reconciliation against GSTR-2A / 2B / 3B and 26AS for any gaps in the last 4 quarters
Reading and triaging any pending notices Vakilsearch had not yet responded to
Pro-rata refund calculation and follow-up email cadence to recover unused annual fees
Your GSTIN, CIN, DIN and DSC tokens stay yours — none of these are tied to Vakilsearch
Your trademark application date is preserved by TM-M; you do not refile
Your DPIIT recognition (if any) and Startup India profile remain with you
Gotchas & honest fixes
These are real situations we have hit in past Vakilsearch migrations. We name them up front so they do not surprise you.
The gotcha
Your GST credentials are with the old Vakilsearch CA and they delay the OTP-based handover (common — Zolvit support queues are long post-rebrand).
Our fix
Workaround: we file Form GST PCT-05 to authorise FilingLab as your GST practitioner directly. This bypasses the old CA entirely and takes 24-48 hours. We have done this 200+ times.
The gotcha
You have a trademark in objection (Section 11/12 raised) and the hearing date is within 14 days. Switching mid-objection feels risky.
Our fix
We file TM-M the same day, attend the hearing as your new attorney, and request a 30-day adjournment if needed. Original filing date and Section 11 reply timeline are not affected.
The gotcha
Vakilsearch refuses to share the DIR-12 SRN for a director change they uploaded but never paid the challan for.
Our fix
We pull the SRN ourselves from MCA21 portal using your CIN and director DIN. If the upload failed entirely, we refile DIR-12 fresh — no penalty since the appointment date stays within the 30-day window.
The gotcha
Annual plan paid upfront, but Zolvit refuses pro-rata refund citing “non-refundable service fee” clause.
Our fix
Most state consumer forums have ruled against this clause for compliance services where work was not performed. We draft a Section 11 Consumer Protection Act notice; 80% of cases resolve at notice stage without filing.
What it costs
Migration is free on any annual FilingLab plan (Starter and above). On monthly plans, a one-time Rs.4,999 migration fee applies. Government fees (TM-M Rs.900, GST PCT-05 nil, any rebilled SRN) pass through.
Frequently asked
No. Vakilsearch Inc. and Zolvit are the same legal entity; the assignment-release process is identical. Some support emails now route through @zolvit.com instead of @vakilsearch.com — we CC both addresses.
You keep dashboard read access for 90 days post-release (their default policy). We export your filing history into your FilingLab vault within the first 48 hours so you are never without it.
Yes. TM-M (Form Request for change of attorney) is a standard procedure. The Trade Marks Registry processes it in 7-14 days. Your original filing date, priority date, and Section 11/12 timelines are unaffected.
DSC tokens (Class 3) are issued in your name by a Certifying Authority (eMudhra, Sify, etc.) — Vakilsearch only stored them. You can re-issue a fresh token within 24 hours from any CA agent for Rs.700-1500. We handle the request if you prefer.
Yes — the assignment-release notice is a formal document sent to their support address. They typically acknowledge within 48 hours. No retention call is mandatory, but expect one offering a discount.
No. DPIIT recognition is in your company name, not Vakilsearch’s. Your certificate, 80-IAC exemption (if granted), and Section 56 angel-tax exemption all stay with the company.
Free migration · 5-7 working days
One kick-off call, two documents to sign, a named CA on your account from day one.