Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to Soica & Associates (“the Firm,” “we,” “us,” or “our”). We are a family law practice serving clients across Ontario, Canada. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information when you visit our website or engage our services.

We are committed to complying with the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), Ontario’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FIPPA), and all applicable provincial and federal privacy legislation.

By using this website or contacting us, you consent to the practices described in this Policy.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide Directly

We may collect the following personal information when you fill out contact forms, book consultations, or communicate with us:

Full name, address, phone number, and email address
Information about your family law matter (e.g., separation, divorce, custody, child support, property division)
Financial information where relevant to your legal matter
Any documents or materials you voluntarily submit to us

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:

IP address and general geographic location
Browser type, operating system, and device information
Pages visited, time spent on pages, and referring URLs
Cookies and similar tracking technologies (see Section 6)

2.3 Sensitive Information

Family law matters often involve sensitive personal information, including details about children, finances, health, and domestic circumstances. We treat all such information with the highest degree of care and confidentiality consistent with our professional obligations as lawyers in Ontario.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use personal information for the following purposes:

To provide legal advice and representation in family law matters
To communicate with you about your case and our services
To schedule consultations and manage appointments
To prepare legal documents, court filings, and correspondence
To comply with our professional and regulatory obligations under the Law Society of Ontario
To improve our website and user experience
To send newsletters or legal updates, where you have consented
To respond to inquiries submitted through our website

We will not use your personal information for any purpose other than those listed above without your prior consent, except as required or permitted by law.

4. Solicitor-Client Privilege

All communications between you and our lawyers are protected by solicitor-client privilege. This is a fundamental legal right that protects the confidentiality of your communications with your legal counsel. We will not disclose privileged information without your explicit consent, except in limited circumstances required by law (e.g., to prevent imminent harm).

5. Disclosure of Personal Information

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may disclose your information in the following limited circumstances:

To other lawyers, counsel, or court officials as required to conduct your legal matter
To third-party service providers who assist us (e.g., secure document management, accounting), bound by confidentiality obligations
To the Law Society of Ontario, courts, or regulatory bodies as required by law
Where you have provided your explicit consent
In emergency situations to prevent serious harm to you or others

6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website may use cookies to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies are small text files stored on your device. We use:

Essential cookies: Required for the website to function properly
Analytics cookies: To understand how visitors use our site (e.g., Google Analytics)
Preference cookies: To remember your settings and preferences

You may disable cookies through your browser settings; however, some features of our website may not function correctly if cookies are disabled. By continuing to use our website, you consent to our use of cookies as described above.

7. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, to provide ongoing legal services, and to meet our professional obligations. In accordance with Law Society of Ontario guidelines, client files are generally retained for a minimum of ten (10) years following the conclusion of a matter, unless a longer retention period is required by law.

When personal information is no longer required, it will be securely destroyed or anonymized.

8. Security

We implement industry-standard physical, technical, and administrative safeguards to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, loss, or destruction. These measures include:

Secure encrypted communications (SSL/TLS)
Password-protected and access-controlled file management systems
Staff training on confidentiality and data security
Restricted access to client files on a need-to-know basis

However, no method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Your Rights

Subject to applicable law and professional obligations, you have the right to:

Request access to the personal information we hold about you
Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
Withdraw consent to the collection or use of your personal information (where consent is the legal basis)
Make a complaint to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada or the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario

To exercise any of these rights, please contact our Privacy Officer using the contact details in Section 12.

10. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.

11. Children’s Privacy

Our website and services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors without the consent of a parent or legal guardian. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us immediately.

12. Contact — Privacy Inquiries

If you have questions, concerns, or requests relating to this Privacy Policy, please contact our Privacy Officer:

Soica & Associates

Email: assistant@soicalaw.ca

Phone: 437-838-6497

We will respond to all privacy inquiries within thirty (30) business days.

13. Changes to This Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy was last updated on April 2, 2026. We reserve the right to modify this Policy at any time. Material changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. Continued use of our website after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Policy.