Privacy Policy

We take your privacy seriously - here's how we handle your information

Last Updated: November 13, 2025

Look, we get it - nobody really enjoys reading privacy policies. But when you're dealing with sensitive family matters and estate planning, you deserve to know exactly how we're protecting your information.

At Jade FME Continuum Legal Services, we've been handling confidential client information since day one. Your trust isn't something we take lightly. This policy spells out what info we collect, why we need it, and how we keep it safe.

This privacy policy applies to all services we provide, whether you're meeting us in person at our Vancouver office, chatting over the phone, or filling out forms on our website. It covers everything from your initial consultation to years down the road when we're still keeping your files secure.

Here's what we typically need from you, depending on the services you're using:

Personal Identification
  • Your full legal name (yeah, we need the middle name too)
  • Date of birth and SIN number for certain matters
  • Contact info - phone, email, mailing address
  • Government-issued ID for verification purposes
Family & Relationship Details
  • Marital status and relationship history
  • Info about your kids (names, ages, custody arrangements)
  • Details about other family members when relevant to estate planning
  • Previous legal agreements like prenups or separation agreements
Financial Information
  • Income details, employment info, tax returns
  • Assets and property you own or co-own
  • Debts, liabilities, and other financial obligations
  • Banking info when we're handling trust accounts or payments
Legal & Medical Records
  • Previous court orders or legal documents
  • Medical information when it's relevant (like for power of attorney stuff)
  • Any existing wills, trusts, or estate documents
Website & Digital Interactions
  • IP address, browser type, device info
  • Pages you visit on our site and how long you stick around
  • Info from contact forms and online appointment bookings
  • Email correspondence and call recordings (we'll always tell you if we're recording)

We'll only ask for what's actually necessary. If something seems irrelevant to your case, don't hesitate to ask why we need it - we're happy to explain.

We're not in the business of collecting data just for kicks. Everything we gather serves a specific purpose:

Providing Legal Services

This is the big one. We use your info to actually do the work you hired us for - preparing documents, representing you in negotiations, filing court papers, setting up wills and trusts, handling probate matters, you name it.

Staying in Touch

We'll use your contact details to update you about your case, answer questions, schedule meetings, and send you important documents. We might also reach out about related legal matters that could affect you.

Billing & Payments

Your financial info helps us process payments, send invoices, and keep track of what's been paid. We're required to keep detailed billing records for regulatory purposes too.

Legal Compliance

Sometimes we've gotta collect and keep certain info because the Law Society of British Columbia or other regulatory bodies say so. We're also required to maintain proper records for tax purposes and potential legal disputes.

Improving Our Services

We look at aggregated, anonymized data to figure out how we can serve clients better. Like if everyone's asking the same questions, maybe we need better resources on our website.

Occasional Updates

With your permission, we might send you updates about changes in family law or estate planning that could matter to you. Don't worry - we're not gonna spam you with marketing nonsense. You can opt out anytime.

Bottom line: we use your information to serve you as your legal counsel and to meet our professional obligations. That's it.

We're bound by solicitor-client privilege, which means we take confidentiality super seriously. But there are a few situations where we might need to share your info:

With Your Consent

When you give us the green light to share info with opposing counsel, mediators, the court, or other parties involved in your matter. We'll always ask first.

Service Providers We Trust

Sometimes we work with third-party professionals who help us serve you better:

  • Document storage and cloud service providers (all encrypted, don't worry)
  • Expert witnesses, appraisers, or financial advisors when your case needs 'em
  • Accounting and billing services
  • IT support and security specialists

These folks are contractually bound to keep your info confidential and can only use it for the specific purposes we've outlined.

Legal Requirements

We might have to disclose information if:

  • A court order or subpoena requires it
  • Government agencies or regulatory bodies request it
  • We're legally obligated under Canadian law (like reporting certain financial transactions)
  • There's an imminent threat to someone's safety - this is rare but we're required to act
Professional Obligations

The Law Society of British Columbia may review our files as part of their regulatory oversight. We might also need to disclose info if there's a complaint or professional conduct investigation - but only what's absolutely necessary.

Important: We will NEVER sell your personal information to anyone. Period. That's not how we operate, and it'd be a massive violation of our professional duties.

Security isn't just a checkbox for us - it's built into everything we do. Here's how we keep your information locked down:

Physical Security
  • Our office at 1250 West Pender Street has controlled access - you can't just walk into our file room
  • Paper documents are stored in locked filing cabinets
  • Confidential waste is shredded, not just tossed in the recycling
  • After-hours security monitoring keeps things safe when we're not around
Digital Security
  • SSL encryption on our website (that little padlock in your browser)
  • Encrypted email for sensitive communications
  • Regular backups stored securely in Canadian data centers
  • Multi-factor authentication for accessing client files
  • Firewalls and antivirus software that's always up to date
  • Regular security audits and vulnerability testing
Staff Training & Policies
  • Everyone on our team signs confidentiality agreements
  • Regular privacy and security training
  • Strict access controls - staff can only see the files they need to
  • Clear desk policy when leaving for the day
  • Secure disposal procedures for old files

A Heads Up: No security system is 100% foolproof. We do everything reasonably possible to protect your data, but we can't guarantee absolute security against every theoretical threat. If there's ever a data breach that affects you, we'll let you know right away and tell you what steps we're taking.

Let's talk cookies - the digital kind, not the chocolate chip kind (though we do keep those in the office kitchen).

What We Use

Our website uses a few different types of cookies and similar technologies:

Essential Cookies: These keep the site working properly. Like remembering you're logged into our secure client portal or keeping items in your consultation booking form if you navigate away. Can't really turn these off without breaking stuff.

Analytics Cookies: We use these to see how people use our website - which pages are popular, where folks are getting stuck, how long visits last. It's all aggregated data, so we're not tracking you personally. Helps us make the site better.

Preference Cookies: These remember your settings, like if you've dismissed certain notices or chosen a specific language preference.

Your Cookie Choices

You've got options:

  • Most browsers let you refuse cookies or delete existing ones
  • You can adjust settings in your browser to notify you when cookies are being set
  • Our cookie banner (when you first visit) lets you customize what you're comfortable with

Just know that blocking certain cookies might make parts of the website less functional. You'll still be able to contact us and access most content though.

Under Canadian privacy laws (including PIPEDA and BC's privacy legislation), you've got some solid rights when it comes to your personal information:

Access Your Information

You can request a copy of what personal info we're holding about you. We'll provide it in a readable format, usually within 30 days. There might be a small fee if it's gonna take significant time to compile everything.

Correct Your Information

Spotted an error in your file? Let us know and we'll fix it. If you've moved, changed your name, or updated any other details, we need to know so our records are accurate.

Request Deletion

You can ask us to delete your personal information. Here's the thing though - we're legally required to keep client files for at least 10 years after a matter closes (Law Society rules). So while we can delete some stuff, we've gotta hang onto the essential legal records.

Withdraw Consent

You can withdraw consent for us to use your info in certain ways, like for newsletters or non-essential communications. Just keep in mind we still need to keep and use info that's necessary for providing legal services or meeting regulatory requirements.

Data Portability

Want to transfer your information to another lawyer? We'll provide your file in a commonly used format. There might be costs involved if copying and organizing everything takes substantial time.

Ask Questions

You can ask us about our privacy practices anytime. Why we collected something, who we shared it with, how long we're keeping it - whatever you wanna know.

How to Exercise Your Rights

Just reach out to us:

Email: info@jadefmecontinuum.info

Phone: (604) 555-0147

Mail: 1250 West Pender Street, Suite 420, Vancouver, BC V6E 2