In this Privacy Policy the terms, ‘we’ or ‘us’ is Milburns Solicitors.

Your privacy is important to us and we are committed to keeping your information secure and managing it in accordance with our legal responsibilities under applicable data protection laws.

Please read this Privacy Statement carefully as it contains important information to help you understand how and why we process any personal information that you give to us.

What information we collect

We process personal information which you give us:

• As a client to provide you with legal services.
• Whilst servicing your account through our website, in writing, in person or over the phone.
• If you request information or assistance from us.

What personal information we process

This includes:

• Personal details such as your date of birth, address, National Insurance number, telephone number and email address.
• Identity information such as your passport, driving licence, utility bills or national identity card.
• Family, lifestyle, financial and social circumstances.
• Financial details such as your income information about your bank accounts.
• Employment/self-employment details.

Special categories of Personal Data

Special categories of personal data include information about an individuals health and other categories of personal information which are closely protected.

We do not generally process such information unless you have voluntarily provided this to us, or it is relevant to the legal service you have asked us to provide you with. For example, in Family & Matrimonial matters, or where you have advised us of an issue, such as your health, which could mean that you may be classed as a “vulnerable client” i.e. due to your personal circumstances or personal characteristics you are particularly vulnerable to financial detriment. We will process sensitive information where you have provided this information to us and have agreed that we can use this information to delivery products and services to you. where possible we shall seek to minimise the collection and use of such special categories of personal data.

How we use your Information

We use your information to:

• Provide legal services to you.
• Provide and service your relationship with us.
• Comply with legal obligations for the prevention of financial crime and money laundering.

We will process your information in order to meet our contractual obligations to you, were have a legitimate interest to do so, where we are permitted by law or to comply with applicable laws and regulation.

How we retain your personal information

We will retain your personal information in accordance with applicable laws. We will take reasonable steps to destroy or anonymise personal information we no longer need to the purposes we have set out above.

Our retention periods are:

• All files except for Wills, Trusts, Probate & LPA files – We will retain an electronic copy of your file for a period of 15 years following the date on which the file is closed. After this, the file may be destroyed.
• Wills, Trusts, Probate & LPA files – We will retain an electronic copy of your file for a period of 100 years following the date on which the file is closed. After this, the file may be destroyed.

How we share your information

Where necessary or required we share information with:

• Regulatory authorities to comply with our legal obligations.
• Property search companies to identify any issues that might influence your decision to buy or sell and property.
• Insurers for the purpose of providing you with appropriate financial cover for an identified insurable risk, or in connection with any claim made by you against us.
• Property agents, Brokers, Lenders, Lay Witnesses, other Solicitors involved in your transaction representing other party(ies) in your matter to enable them and us to fulfil our obligations to you.
• Other Government Departments such as HMRC, Companies House, Probate Registry, Court of Protection or HM Land Registry to fulfil you and our legal obligations.
• Experts and Barristers required to work on your matter.
• Our Auditors and external assessment bodies to achieve and maintain any Regulator or Quality Assurance Standards and accreditations which meet our legal obligations and enable us to provide quality legal services to you.

Information Security

We are committed to the security or personal data. We take appropriate security measures to limit abuse of an unauthorised access to personal data. This ensures that inly the necessary persons have access to your data, that access to the data is protected, and that our security measures are regularly reviewed. We invest appropriate resources to protect your personal information, from loss, misuse, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure. However, no internet-based site can be 100% secure and we cannot be held responsible for unauthorised or unintended access that is beyond our control.

Cookies

Our website uses cookies. For information about cookies, please refer to our Cookie Policy.

Your Rights

You have the right under the General Data Protection Regulation 2016 to obtain your personal information, including a description of the data we hold about you.

You have the following rights with respect to your personal data:

• You have the right to know why your personal data is needed, what will happen to it, and how long it will be retained for.
• Right of access: You have the right to access your personal data that is known to us.
• Right to rectification: You have the right to supplement, correct, have deleted or blocked your personal data whenever you wish.
• If you give us your consent to process your data, you have the right to revoke that consent and to have your personal data deleted.
• Right to transfer your data: You have the right to request all your personal data from the controller and transfer it in its entirety to another controller.
• Right to object: You may object to the processing of your data. We comply with this, unless these are justified ground for processing.

If you have any queries about these rights or wish to exercise these rights, you can contacts us via telephone, email or write to us at the address below.

If you have a complaint about how we have handled your personal information you may contact us using the details below and we will investigate your complaint. You also have the right to complain to the ICO.

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
www.ico.org.uk

You can contact us:
Natalie Cueto, Practice Manager
Milburns Solicitors
21-23 Oxford Street
Workington
Cumbria
CA14 2AL
01900 67363
ncueto@milburnssolicitors.co.uk

We will keep this Privacy Policy under review and make updates from time to time. Any minor changes to this Privacy Statement will be posted on this page and we will communicate any major changes to you.