Introduction
QLD Estate Lawyers (“we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to handling your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal information, particularly in the context of providing legal services in wills, estates, and probate matters.
Collection of Personal Information
We collect personal information necessary to provide legal services and to respond to enquiries about those services. The type and amount of personal information we collect will depend on the nature of the matter and may include:
- Your identity and contact details (e.g., name, address, email, phone number).
- Information relating to your personal, financial, and family circumstances.
- Where relevant, details of your beneficiaries, executors, or other parties connected to your estate or legal matter.
- In cases such as estate disputes, compensation claims, or family provision matters, we may need to collect sensitive or confidential information, such as medical, employment, Medicare, taxation, Centrelink, WorkCover, or educational records.
- Correspondence and records arising from matters on which we act or advise, including communications with other parties, co-counsel, barristers, experts, and witnesses.
- Information from individuals who enquire about our services, including those who contact us by phone, email, or via our website.
- Information from suppliers or service providers that assist us with practice administration.
Our collection of personal information is ongoing and may continue throughout the period in which we provide legal services to you.
Use and Disclosure of Personal Information
We use the personal information we collect to:
- Provide legal services and advice in relation to wills, estates, and probate matters.
- Perform tasks necessary for the conduct of legal proceedings, including disclosure to courts, tribunals, regulatory authorities, opposing parties, their insurers and lawyers, government agencies, and expert consultants or witnesses (as required).
- Communicate with you, keep you informed about the progress of your matter, and respond to your enquiries.
- Conduct administrative aspects of our practice, such as billing, record-keeping, and risk management.
- Send newsletters or information about our services, if you have enquired about or received our services. You may opt out of receiving such communications at any time by contacting us at the details provided below.
- Disclose personal information to external service providers and related organisations assisting us with services connected to your legal matter, subject to their confidentiality obligations.
Access and Correction
You have the right to request access to the personal information we hold about you, subject to certain exceptions. We may refuse access where:
- It would be unlawful (e.g., if the information is subject to legal professional privilege).
- It would unreasonably affect the privacy of others.
- It would prejudice negotiations or an investigation of unlawful activity.
- A legal lien exists over the records.
If we refuse access, we will provide you with our reasons, unless it would be unreasonable to do so. Access requests may incur a charge to cover the time and resources involved in retrieving and providing the information.
We strive to ensure personal information is accurate, complete, and up-to-date. If you believe that the information we hold about you is inaccurate, incomplete, or out-of-date, please contact us and we will take reasonable steps to correct it. However, we will not alter records that form part of ongoing or concluded legal proceedings if such alteration would compromise the integrity of those proceedings.
Data Security
We take reasonable steps to protect the personal information we hold from misuse, interference, loss, unauthorised access, modification, or disclosure. These steps include secure storage, use of encryption, restricted access to files, and ongoing staff training. While we take every precaution, no method of transmission over the internet or storage is fully secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.
Complaints and Enquiries
If you have concerns about how we collect, handle, or use your personal information, or wish to discuss any aspect of this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:
QLD Estate Lawyers
GPO Box 1860
Brisbane QLD 4001
Email: [email protected]
We will respond to your enquiry or complaint as soon as practicable. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).
Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal obligations, or industry standards. The current version will be available on our website.
QLD Estate LawyersREQUEST A CALL BACK
Contact our Wills and Estate lawyers by sending us an email and we’ll get in touch shortly, or phone between 8:30AM and 5:00PM Monday to Friday — we would be delighted to speak.
Office hours — 1300 580 413
| Monday | 8:30 am – 6:00 pm |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 7:30 am – 6:00 pm |
| Wednesday | 7:30 am – 6:00 pm |
| Thursday | 7:30 am – 6:00 pm |
| Friday | 7:30 am – 5:00 pm |
| Saturday | Closed |
| Sunday | Closed |
Need something else? Find more ways to get in touch.