Privacy Policy & Disclaimer

Policy Concerning Clients’ Personal Information

Bereavement Law is dedicated to maintaining high standards of confidentiality with respect to the information that has been provided to it. This Privacy Policy Statement has been prepared to affirm Bereavement Law’s commitment to maintaining the privacy of Clients and others and to inform you of Bereavement Law’s practices concerning the collection, use and disclosure of Personal Information provided to Bereavement Law.

For the purposes of this statement, “Client” means an individual or other legal person who has retained Bereavement Law to represent, assist or counsel in any legal matter and those who seek to become clients of Bereavement Law. Bereavement Law’s obligations also apply to all directors, officers, employees, contractors and agents who provide services to or on behalf of Bereavement Law in connection with its delivery of products and services.

What is Personal Information?

Bereavement Law considers “Personal Information” to mean any information, recorded in any form, about an identified individual or a legal person or an individual or a legal person whose identity may be inferred or determined from such information, and can include name, title, business name, business address, telephone and fax numbers, e-mail address and credentials.

Why Bereavement Law Collects Personal Information

Bereavement Law collects information provided in writing and via its website or verbally about Clients to fulfill Law Society of Ontario (LSO) requirements and other regulatory and legal requirements. Information is used for:

• Communicating with and determining the needs of Clients and potential clients;
• Providing legal services to Clients;
• Managing its relationship with Clients and potential clients;
• Meeting legal and regulatory requirements; and
• Such other purposes consistent with the foregoing purposes.

How Bereavement Law Uses Personal Information

Bereavement Law only collects, uses and discloses Personal Information for purposes that would be considered reasonable in the circumstances and only such information as is required for the purposes of providing services to or about its Clients and as stated above. Bereavement Law will use only fair and lawful methods to collect Personal Information. Bereavement Law’s use of Personal Information is limited to the purposes described in this Statement.

When Bereavement Law May Disclose Personal Information

As a general rule, all information concerning a Client is held in strict confidence and, except in limited circumstances including those outlined in this Privacy Statement, is not revealed to anyone unless expressly or implicitly authorized by the Client. Bereavement Law does not lease the name, address, telephone number and e-mail address of Clients to affiliated organizations or other reputable organizations other than in those cases referenced in this Privacy Policy.

Consent

Unless permitted by law, no Personal Information is collected without first obtaining the consent of the individual concerned to the collection, use and dissemination of that information. If a Client consents, their personal information shall be used for the purposes indicated in this statement. If a Client does not consent, then their personal information shall be used by Bereavement Law for purposes of communicating with the Client only and shall not be provided to anyone else. If a Client wishes to withdraw their consent, the Client can do so by electronic means or by contacting Bereavement Law directly.

The Accuracy and Retention of Personal Information

Bereavement Law endeavours to ensure that any Personal Information provided by its Clients and in its possession is as accurate, current and complete as necessary for the purposes for which Bereavement Law uses that information. If Bereavement Law becomes aware that Personal Information is inaccurate, incomplete or out-of-date, Bereavement Law will request that the Client revise it, or shall revise it at the Client’s request.

Bereavement Law shall keep Personal Information only as long as it is required for the reasons it was collected. When Personal Information is no longer required, Bereavement Law shall destroy, delete or erase information in a secure manner or convert it into an anonymous form.

Protection of Personal Information

Bereavement Law endeavours to maintain appropriate physical, procedural and technical security with respect to its offices and information storage facilities so as to prevent any loss, misuse, unauthorized access, disclosure, or modification of Personal Information. Bereavement Law further protects Personal Information by restricting access to those directors, officers, employees, contractors and agents who need to know that information in order to provide its services.

Access to Personal Information

Bereavement Law permits the reasonable right of access and review of Personal Information held about a Client at the Client’s request. Bereavement Law will endeavour to provide the information in question within a reasonable time and no later than 15 business days following the request. Where information will not or cannot be disclosed, the individual making the request will be provided with the reasons for non-disclosure. Bereavement Law will not charge a Client for verifying or correcting their Personal Information.

Visiting Bereavement Law’s Website

A visitor to Bereavement Law’s website is not required to reveal any individually identifiable information, such as name, address, or telephone number. Information is collected when an individual voluntarily provides it in the following circumstances:

• Their computer leaves a data trail when accessing the site;
• When an individual e-mails any Bereavement Law employee directly through the site; and
• When the Contact page is used.

Through use of e-mail addresses, Bereavement Law can provide Clients and others with information about services and information related to law. Clients and others may indicate that they do not wish to receive any unsolicited electronic communication.

Evolving Practices

Bereavement Law will from time to time review and revise its privacy practices and this statement. Policy changes will apply to the information collected from the date of posting to the Bereavement Law website as well as to existing information held by Bereavement Law.

For questions about this Privacy Statement, please contact us or send an email to avi@charneylegal.ca.

Limitation of Liability

Bereavement Law does not assume any responsibility nor will be liable for any errors, omissions or inaccuracies in the site or its content, whether or not Bereavement Law is advised of the possibility of such damages, resulting from the use of, or the inability to make use of, this site or its content.