Privacy Policy
Last Updated: October 2025
Our Commitment to Your Privacy
Compassfamily understands that privacy matters deeply when dealing with family legal issues. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, protect, and share your personal information when you use our website or engage our legal services.
As a law firm, we are bound by solicitor-client privilege and professional obligations that provide additional layers of protection beyond standard privacy requirements. This policy describes both our legal obligations and our commitment to handling your information with care and discretion.
Information We Collect
Personal Information You Provide
When you contact us or engage our services, we may collect:
- Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, mailing address
- Legal Matter Information: Details about your family law situation, documents you provide, communications about your case
- Financial Information: Banking details for payment processing, financial documents relevant to your legal matter
- Identification Information: Government-issued ID when required for legal processes
Information We Collect Automatically
When you visit our website, we automatically collect:
- Usage Data: IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited, time spent on pages
- Cookie Data: Information collected through cookies as described in our Cookie Policy
- Referral Information: How you found our website and navigation patterns
How We Use Your Information
Legal Services
We use your information to:
- Provide legal advice and representation in family law matters
- Communicate with you about your case and legal proceedings
- Prepare legal documents and court filings
- Coordinate with other professionals involved in your matter
- Process payments for legal services
Website Operations
We use automatically collected information to:
- Improve website functionality and user experience
- Analyze website traffic and usage patterns
- Ensure website security and prevent fraud
- Respond to technical issues and support requests
Marketing and Communications
With your consent, we may use your information to:
- Send newsletters about family law topics (you can unsubscribe anytime)
- Provide updates about our services
- Conduct client satisfaction surveys
Legal Basis for Processing
We process your personal information based on the following legal grounds:
Consent
You have given clear permission for us to process your personal information for specific purposes, such as marketing communications.
Contract
Processing is necessary to provide legal services under our retainer agreement with you.
Legitimate Interest
Processing is necessary for our legitimate business operations, such as maintaining client records and managing our practice, provided this doesn't override your rights.
Legal Obligation
Processing is required to comply with legal requirements such as tax reporting, anti-money laundering regulations, and Law Society of Ontario rules.
How We Protect Your Information
We implement comprehensive security measures to protect your personal information:
Technical Safeguards
- • Encrypted data transmission (SSL/TLS)
- • Secure cloud storage systems
- • Regular security audits
- • Firewall protection
- • Access controls and authentication
Organizational Safeguards
- • Staff training on privacy and security
- • Confidentiality agreements
- • Limited access policies
- • Secure document handling procedures
- • Regular privacy assessments
Data Breach Notification
In the event of a data breach that may risk your rights and freedoms, we will notify you and relevant authorities within 72 hours as required by law.
Information Sharing and Disclosure
Solicitor-Client Privilege
Information you share with us as your lawyer is protected by solicitor-client privilege. We cannot disclose this information without your permission except in very limited circumstances required by law.
When We May Share Information
We may share your information in these circumstances:
- With Your Consent: When you explicitly authorize us to share information with specific parties
- Legal Proceedings: When required for court filings, disclosures, or legal proceedings related to your matter
- Service Providers: With trusted third parties who assist in providing legal services (financial specialists, investigators, expert witnesses) under confidentiality agreements
- Legal Requirements: When required by law, court order, or regulatory obligations
- Professional Obligations: With the Law Society of Ontario if required for regulatory compliance
Note: We never sell your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.
Data Retention
We retain your personal information for different periods depending on the type of information and legal requirements:
After retention periods expire, we securely delete or destroy personal information unless we have legitimate reasons to retain it longer.
Your Privacy Rights
You have the following rights regarding your personal information:
Right to Access
Request copies of your personal information we hold
Right to Rectification
Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
Right to Erasure
Request deletion of your personal data (subject to legal obligations)
Right to Portability
Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format
Right to Object
Object to processing based on legitimate interests
Right to Withdraw
Withdraw consent for marketing communications anytime
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at [email protected] or call +1 (416) 487-6329.
Third-Party Services
Our website and services may use third-party providers who have their own privacy policies:
- Google Analytics: Collects anonymous usage data to help us understand website traffic
- Payment Processors: Handle payment information securely through PCI-compliant systems
- Cloud Storage Providers: Store encrypted data on secure servers
Children's Privacy
Our website and services are not directed at individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child, please contact us immediately so we can delete it.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. When we make significant changes, we will:
- Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
- Notify current clients via email if changes affect their information
- Post a notice on our website for at least 30 days
Contact Us About Privacy
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your information, please contact us:
Phone
+1 (416) 487-6329Mailing Address
Compassfamily
2300 Yonge Street, Suite 1600
Toronto, ON M4P 1E4
Canada
If you believe we have not addressed your privacy concerns adequately, you have the right to file a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.