Privacy Policy for Evans Wills & Estates Lawyers

 

Last Updated: 3 September 2025

 

At Evans Wills & Estates Lawyers (referred to as "we," "us," or "our"), we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, store, and protect your personal information when you interact with our website (https://www.evansestatelaw.com.au/), engage our legal services, or contact us.

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1. Information We Collect

 

We may collect the following types of personal information:

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• Personal and Contact Information: Name, address, email address, phone number, and other contact details provided when you engage our services, request a consultation, or submit inquiries via our website, email, phone, or online forms.

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• Sensitive Information: Information relevant to legal services, such as financial details, family circumstances, health information (e.g., for enduring guardianship or estate planning), or other sensitive data necessary for preparing wills, powers of attorney, or administering estates.

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• Digital Information: Information collected automatically when you visit our website, including IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited, and time spent on the site. We may use cookies or similar technologies to enhance your experience.

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• Service-Related Information: Details related to your estate planning, probate, or estate administration needs, including documents or information provided during legal consultations.

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• Payment Information: Billing details, such as credit card or bank account information, for processing payments for our services.

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2. How We Collect Information

 

We collect personal information:

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• Directly from You: When you complete forms on our website, request a consultation, engage our legal services, or communicate with us via phone, email, or in-person appointments.

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• Automatically via Our Website: Through cookies, analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics), or server logs that track website usage.

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• From Third Parties: In some cases, we may receive information from third parties, such as financial institutions, government agencies, or other professionals (e.g., accountants or financial advisors), with your consent or as permitted by law.

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3. Purpose of Collection

 

We collect and use your personal information for the following purposes:

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• To provide legal services, including drafting wills, estate planning, applying for probate, administering estates, and resolving estate disputes.

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• To respond to inquiries, schedule appointments (online or telephone), and communicate with you about your legal matters.

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• To process payments and manage billing for our fixed-fee or other services.

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• To comply with legal obligations, such as record-keeping under NSW law or responding to court orders.

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• To improve our website and services through analytics and user feedback.

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• With your consent, to send marketing communications about our services, such as updates on estate planning or new offerings.

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4. Use and Disclosure

 

We may use or disclose your personal information:

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• To Provide Services: To our staff, contractors, or third-party service providers (e.g., IT providers, payment processors, or document storage services) who assist in delivering our legal services, subject to strict confidentiality agreements.

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• For Legal Purposes: To comply with legal obligations, such as reporting to government authorities, or in connection with legal proceedings (e.g., estate disputes or probate applications).

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• With Consent: To third parties, such as other professionals involved in your estate plan (e.g., financial advisors), with your explicit consent.

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• For Safety and Security: To protect our rights, property, or safety, or that of our clients or the public, as permitted by law.

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We will not disclose your personal information to overseas recipients unless required for your legal matter (e.g., international estate administration) and only with your consent or as permitted under the APPs.

 

5. Storage and Security

 

We take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure. These steps include:

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• Storing data on secure servers with encryption and access controls.

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• Maintaining physical security for paper-based records in our offices.

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• Using secure payment gateways for financial transactions.

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• Limiting access to personal information to authorised personnel only.

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We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this policy or as required by law (e.g., record-keeping obligations under NSW legal practice regulations). When no longer needed, we securely destroy or de-identify the information.

 

6. Access and Correction

 

Under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), you have the right to:

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• Request access to the personal information we hold about you.

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• Request correction of inaccurate, incomplete, or outdated information.

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To make a request, please contact us using the details below. We will respond within a reasonable period, typically within 30 days, and may charge a reasonable fee for processing access requests, as permitted by law. Access may be refused in certain circumstances, such as where it would impact the privacy of others or interfere with legal proceedings, and we will provide reasons for any refusal.

 

7. Cookies and Website Analytics

 

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to enhance functionality and analyse usage. Cookies are small data files stored on your device that help us improve your browsing experience. You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings. We may use tools like Google Analytics to collect anonymised data about website usage, such as pages visited and time spent. This data helps us improve our website but does not identify you personally unless you provide personal information through forms.

 

8. Third-Party Links

 

Our website may contain links to third-party websites (e.g., government portals or payment processors). We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these websites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing personal information.

 

9. Marketing Communications

 

If you opt-in to receive marketing communications, we may send you updates about our services, such as estate planning tips or new offerings. You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the "unsubscribe" link in our emails or contacting us directly.

 

10. Complaints

 

If you have concerns about how we handle your personal information, please contact us using the details below. We will investigate and respond to complaints promptly, typically within 30 days. If you are dissatisfied with our response, you may lodge a complaint with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au.

 

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

 

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. The updated policy will be posted on our website with the "Last Updated" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.

 

12. Contact Us

 

For questions, requests, or complaints about this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact:

 

Evans Wills & Estates Lawyers

Address: Suite 4, 66 Owen Stree, Huskisson NSW 2540

Email: devans@evansestatelaw.com.au

Phone: 0494 081574

Website: https://www.evansestatelaw.com.au/