Privacy Policy

Cottage Broom is committed to maintaining the accuracy, confidentiality, and security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, and disclose the personal data of our clients and website visitors in accordance with the laws of Ontario and the federal laws of Canada. We recognize the sensitive nature of estate planning and the trust you place in us when sharing details regarding your assets, family, and final wishes.

1. Legal Framework and Compliance

Our privacy practices are governed by the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), SC 2000, c 5, at the federal level, and the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPA) where applicable in the province of Ontario. As an Ottawa-based entity, Cottage Broom adheres to the ten fair information principles set out in Schedule 1 of PIPEDA, ensuring that your data is handled with the highest level of integrity.

2. Information We Collect

In the course of providing estate planning guidance and testamentary services, we may collect the following categories of personal information:

• Identity Data: Full legal names, dates of birth, marital status, and government-issued identification numbers required for formalizing legal documents.
• Contact Data: Residential addresses, personal phone numbers, and email addresses.
• Financial Data: Information regarding assets, liabilities, real estate holdings in Ontario, and bank account details for probate fee estimations.
• Technical Data: IP addresses, browser types, and cookie identifiers collected during your visit to our website.

3. Purposes of Data Processing

Cottage Broom processes your data under the following legal grounds:

1. Consent: When you voluntarily provide information via our contact forms or during consultations.
2. Performance of a Contract: To draft your Last Will and Testament, Powers of Attorney, or Trust documents as requested.
3. Legal Obligation: To comply with anti-money laundering regulations and Ontario court requirements for probate and estate administration.
4. Legitimate Interest: To improve our website functionality and provide relevant information on estate planning trends in the Ottawa region.

4. Data Retention and Security

We retain personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. Given the nature of estate planning, some records may be kept indefinitely to assist in the eventual administration of the estate. We employ robust administrative, technical, and physical safeguards—including encrypted servers and secure physical filing systems—to protect your data against unauthorized access or disclosure.

5. Disclosure to Third Parties

We do not sell your personal data. However, we may share information with trusted third parties in the following circumstances:

• Legal counsel or financial advisors involved in your estate planning process.
• The Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General (for probate applications).
• Cloud service providers who host our secure client management systems.
• As required by law to comply with a subpoena or court order.

6. Your Rights Under Canadian Law

Under PIPEDA and Ontario privacy standards, you possess the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Right of Access: You may request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
• Right of Rectification: You may request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Right to Withdraw Consent: You may withdraw your consent to data processing at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions and reasonable notice.
• Right to Complain: You have the right to lodge a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (OPC) if you believe our practices violate privacy laws.

7. International Data Transfers

While Cottage Broom is based in Ottawa, some of our service providers may operate in jurisdictions outside of Canada (such as the United States). In such cases, your data may be subject to the laws of those jurisdictions, including the right of foreign governments or law enforcement to access your information. We ensure that all service providers adhere to data protection standards equivalent to those in Canada.

8. Contact Information

To exercise any of your rights or to ask questions about our privacy practices, please contact our Privacy Officer at: