PRIVACY POLICY
Effective Date: March 27, 2025
At WaveCrest Legal, P.A. (the “Firm”), we are committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of our clients to the extent required by law and professional ethics. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and retain personal information in connection with our legal estate planning services. This policy is designed to comply with applicable Florida laws while preserving the Firm’s rights and limiting our obligations to maintain records beyond what is legally mandated.
1. Information We Collect
We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you engage our services, including but not limited to:
- Full name, address, phone number, and email address;
- Social Security number, date of birth, and other identification details;
- Financial information, such as income, assets, and account details;
- Family information, including names and relationships of heirs or beneficiaries;
- Health-related information, if relevant to your estate plan; and
- Any other documents or information you submit to us for the purpose of providing legal services.
We do not collect information beyond what is necessary to perform our legal services unless required by law or court order.
2. How We Use Your Information
The Firm uses your personal information solely for the purpose of providing legal estate planning services, including:
- Drafting wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and other estate planning documents;
- Advising you on legal and financial matters related to your estate;
- Communicating with you regarding your case; and
- Complying with legal obligations, such as tax reporting or court proceedings, if applicable.
We do not use your information for marketing purposes or share it with third parties except as described below.
3. Disclosure of Your Information
We may disclose your information only in the following circumstances:
With Your Consent: We will share your information with third parties (e.g., financial advisors, accountants, or trustees) only if you provide explicit written consent.
Legal Requirements: We may disclose information if compelled by law, subpoena, court order, or other legal process.
Professional Obligations: We may share information as required by the Florida Bar Rules of Professional Conduct or to defend ourselves in a legal dispute.
Service Providers: We may engage third-party vendors (e.g., cloud storage or document management providers) to assist in delivering our services, but only under strict confidentiality agreements.
The Firm reserves the right to limit disclosures to the minimum required by law and will not voluntarily disclose information beyond what is necessary.
4. Data Security
We implement reasonable physical, technical, and administrative measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, loss, or misuse. However, no system is completely secure, and the Firm does not guarantee the absolute security of your information. You provide information to us at your own risk, and we are not liable for breaches beyond our reasonable control.
5. Retention and Destruction of Information
The Firm retains your personal information and documents only for as long as necessary to provide our legal services or as required by Florida law or the Florida Bar Rules of Professional Conduct. After this period, we may destroy or delete your information at our sole discretion without notice to you.
Client Files: We are not obligated to retain your files indefinitely. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, we may destroy physical and electronic records seven (7) years after the conclusion of our representation, consistent with Florida Bar guidelines.
Original Documents: If you provide original documents (e.g., deeds, wills, or certificates), we strongly encourage you to retrieve them upon completion of our services. The Firm is not responsible for storing or returning original documents unless required by law. Unclaimed documents may be destroyed after reasonable notice to you.
No Ongoing Duty: The Firm has no duty to maintain, update, or preserve your information beyond the termination of our attorney-client relationship, except as mandated by law.
You are responsible for maintaining copies of any documents or information you provide to us.
6. Your Rights and Responsibilities
Under Florida law, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, such as the right to access or correct it. However, the Firm is not obligated to fulfill requests that exceed our legal or professional duties. To request access to your information, contact us in writing at the address below. We reserve the right to deny requests that are unreasonable, burdensome, or not required by law.
You are responsible for:
Providing accurate and complete information;
Promptly retrieving original documents or copies of files upon request; and
Notifying us of any changes to your contact information.
7. Limitation of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Firm is not liable for any loss, misuse, or unauthorized disclosure of your information resulting from circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to cyberattacks, third-party actions, or your failure to retrieve documents. Our responsibility is limited to complying with applicable legal and ethical standards during our representation.
8. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy at our discretion without prior notice. The most current version will be available at our office or upon request. Your continued engagement with the Firm after any changes constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.
9. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or our practices, please contact us at:
WaveCrest Legal, P.A.
419 Third Street N.
Jacksonville Beach, Florida 32250
Office: 904-595-5290
Email: mike@wavecrestlegal.com
This Privacy Policy is not a contract and does not create any legal rights beyond those provided by applicable law. It reflects our current practices and our intent to limit obligations to the greatest extent permitted by law while fulfilling our professional responsibilities.