1. Introduction
Gerardin Law Firm (“Firm,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of all individuals who visit our website and interact with our legal services. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information in accordance with applicable federal and state laws, including applicable bar association rules governing attorney-client confidentiality.
By accessing or using our website, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Information You Provide Directly
We may collect the following categories of personal information that you voluntarily provide:
- Contact information (name, address, telephone number, email address)
- Information submitted through our contact or intake forms
- Details you share during consultations or inquiries about legal matters
- Payment and billing information when applicable
- Any other information you choose to provide to our Firm
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
When you visit our website, certain information may be collected automatically through cookies and similar tracking technologies, including:
- IP address and general geographic location
- Browser type, version, and operating system
- Pages visited, time spent on pages, and navigation paths
- Referring website addresses
- Date and time of your visit
2.3 Information from Third Parties
We may receive information about you from third-party sources, such as referral partners or publicly available databases, in connection with our legal services or business operations.
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the information collected for the following purposes:
- To respond to your inquiries and communicate with you about our legal services
- To establish and manage the attorney-client relationship where applicable
- To process payments and maintain billing records
- To comply with legal, regulatory, and professional obligations
- To improve our website, services, and client experience
- To send administrative communications, including updates to this Policy
- To detect, prevent, and address fraud, security incidents, or other illegal activity
We will not use your information for marketing purposes without your prior consent, and we will not sell your personal information to third parties.
4. Confidentiality and Attorney-Client Privilege
Any information you share with our attorneys in the context of seeking legal advice may be protected by attorney-client privilege and applicable rules of professional conduct. We maintain strict confidentiality of client communications and case-related information in accordance with the Rules of Professional Conduct of the applicable state bar.
Please note that submitting information through our website contact form or general inquiry email does not, by itself, create an attorney-client relationship. An attorney-client relationship is only established upon execution of a written engagement agreement.
5. Disclosure of Your Information
We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal or mobile data information. We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:
5.1 Service Providers
We may engage trusted third-party vendors to assist with website hosting, payment processing, data analytics, or other business functions. These parties are contractually obligated to maintain the confidentiality of your information.
5.2 Legal and Regulatory Requirements
We may disclose your information when required by law, court order, subpoena, or other governmental or regulatory authority, or when necessary to protect our rights, property, or the safety of our clients and the public.
5.3 Professional Obligations
In certain circumstances, our attorneys may be required to disclose information pursuant to their professional duties under applicable rules of professional conduct, including mandatory reporting obligations.
5.4 Business Transfers
In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of firm assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to applicable confidentiality obligations.
6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Our website may use cookies, web beacons, and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience. You may configure your browser to refuse cookies or to alert you when cookies are being sent. Please note that some features of our website may not function properly if cookies are disabled.
We do not currently respond to browser “Do Not Track” signals, but you may opt out of certain tracking by adjusting your browser settings or using available opt-out tools.
7. Data Retention
We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Policy, to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Client files and related records are retained in accordance with applicable state bar requirements and professional obligations.
8. Voice and SMS Communications Policy
If you contact our office by phone or interact with our automated voice assistant, you may receive follow-up communications, including text messages related to your inquiry, appointment scheduling, case intake, or service updates.
By providing your phone number and agreeing during your interaction, you consent to receive text messages from us, including messages sent using automated systems. Consent is not a condition of purchase or service.
No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Information may be shared with subcontractors and service providers (such as customer service platforms, communications platforms, and messaging providers) only as necessary to deliver our services. Text messaging originator opt-in data and consent will not be shared with any third parties, except aggregators and providers of the messaging services as required to deliver messages.
Message frequency may vary. Message and data rates may apply depending on your mobile carrier and service plan. If you wish to stop receiving text messages, you may reply STOP at any time. For assistance, reply HELP or contact our office directly. Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.
9. Security
We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
10. Your Rights and Choices
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including:
- The right to access and obtain a copy of your personal information
- The right to request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
- The right to request deletion of your personal information, subject to applicable legal and professional obligations
- The right to opt out of certain processing activities
- The right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided in Section 11 below. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe and in accordance with applicable law.
11. Children’s Privacy
Our website and services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us immediately and we will take steps to delete it.
12. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We reserve the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time. Material changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Your continued use of our website following the posting of changes constitutes your acceptance of such changes.
13. Contact Us
If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:
Gerardin Law Firm, P.A.
Family Law Attorney and Certified Family Law Mediator
Lake County: 352-505-4950
Email: info@gerardinlaw.com
131 W Main Street
Tavares, FL 32778