Privacy Policy

The Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (“Act”), a federal law enacted in November 1999, financial service providers which include Estate Planning Attorneys, who like other financial service providers, are required to inform their clients of their policies regarding the privacy of clien information. Practice before the IRS requires that we are not permitted to disclose any client information provided for tax planning or preparation services without your prior written consent.
Additionally, as attorneys we are governed in our jurisdictions and specially regulated through our state bar associations to comply with standards of ethical conduct as identified in the Code of Professional Conduct (“Professional Code”). Although they may vary from state to state, we must maintain confidentiality regarding the information that our clients and potential clients
(aka, consults) share with us, except in some specific circumstances, even after your death.

Non-Public Information we Collect:

Our engagement as estate planners require us to obtain private information about our clients. We obtain this information from you by either speaking with you or documents that you bring to us. We also need to obtain information from outside sources but need your authorization to do so.

Parties to Whom Information is Disclosed:

We do not disclose private personal information of clients or former clients which we have obtained in the course of our practice, except as required or permitted by law.
Required Disclosures:

As an attorney, we are required by law to make disclosure of private

information where we have knowledge of child abuse or of your intent to commit a crime.

Permitted Disclosures:
On occasion we may need to provide your private information to unrelated third parties who are assisting us in completing the work for which you have engaged our firm. This is not provided without first obtaining your written permission. Examples include disclosure to an accountant who is assisting with tax research or accounting services; an appraiser helping us to value an asset; a life insurance professional providing us with quotes for obtaining life insurance coverage.
As an attorney, when you engage our firm, may disclose your private information to some employees of the firm as may be required to complete your work.
An attorney may disclose client communication and information if the client files a complaint in court or a complaint with the Attorney’s professional organization against them. If a client, hoping to use privilege, brings evidence of a crime or documents to prevent them from being disclosed, those attempts are not legitimate and the Attorney cannot participate in these actions.

 

Protecting Confidentiality and Security of Information
Under our Code of Professional Conduct, we are not permitted to disclose your private information that we obtained even if you have had a consultation with us and have decided not to retain us unless the disclosure meets an exception.

Request to Release or Not Release
Under the Federal Trade Commission’s regulations, we must notify you that you may request our firm not release your non-public information which we are not permitted to do without your approval under our own Code of Professional Conduct. While unnecessary, in the interest of satisfying this regulation we are disclosing this right.