Privacy Policy
Silk Legal Pty Ltd
Effective Date: 25 March 2025
At Silk Legal Pty Ltd ("Silk Legal," "we," "us," or "our"), we are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information with care and transparency. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). As a Victorian-based law firm specializing in Wills and Estates, Family Law, and Construction Law, we prioritize your trust and confidentiality.
1. Personal Information We Collect
We collect personal information necessary to provide our legal services and manage client relationships. This may include:
Identity and Contact Details: Name, address, email, phone number, and date of birth.
Legal Matter Details: Information relevant to your case, such as financial records, family details, property ownership, or health information (e.g., for estate planning or medical decision-maker documents).
Transactional Data: Billing and payment information.
Website Data: Technical data (e.g., IP address, browser type) collected via cookies when you visit www.silklegal.com.au (see our Cookie Policy for details).
We collect this information directly from you (e.g., during consultations, via forms, or correspondence) or, where necessary, from third parties (e.g., courts, opposing parties, or government agencies) with your consent or as permitted by law.
2. How We Use Your Information
We use your personal information to:
Provide legal advice and services in Wills and Estates, Family Law, and Construction Law.
Draft and manage documents such as Wills, Powers of Attorney, and contracts.
Communicate with you via phone, email, SMS, or video regarding your matter.
Process payments and maintain accounts.
Comply with legal, regulatory, and professional obligations (e.g., record-keeping or reporting to courts).
Improve our services and website functionality.
3. Disclosure of Your Information
We may disclose your personal information:
To third parties involved in your matter (e.g., barristers, mediators, or financial institutions), with your consent or as required for your case.
To courts, tribunals, or government bodies when legally obligated.
To service providers (e.g., IT support or document storage providers) under strict confidentiality agreements.
Where required or authorized by law, such as in response to a subpoena.
We do not disclose your information overseas unless it’s necessary for your matter (e.g., international estate issues), and we will take reasonable steps to ensure compliance with Australian privacy standards.
4. Storage and Security
Your personal information is stored securely in our firm’s systems, including:
Physical files in a locked, fireproof safe at our Victorian office.
Electronic records on encrypted, Australian-based servers.
We retain original Wills and key estate documents in safe custody at no cost, as agreed with clients. We implement reasonable safeguards to protect your information from misuse, loss, or unauthorized access, though no system is infallible.
5. Access and Correction
You may request access to or correction of your personal information by contacting us (details below). We will respond within a reasonable timeframe, subject to legal or confidentiality obligations (e.g., solicitor-client privilege). There’s typically no fee unless the request is complex.
6. Complaints
If you have concerns about how we handle your personal information, please contact us first. We’ll investigate and respond within 30 days. If unsatisfied, you can escalate your complaint to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) at www.oaic.gov.au or 1300 363 992.
7. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect legal or operational changes. The latest version will be posted on www.silklegal.com.au with the effective date. We encourage you to review it regularly.
8. Contact Us
For questions, requests, or complaints about your privacy, please contact us.