Privacy Policy

Ohio Legacy Law (“Ohio Legacy Law,” the “Firm,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what personal information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and the choices you have. It applies to information collected through our website at https://www.southwestohiolaw.com/, our online forms, our telephone and text-messaging (SMS) program, email, and other communications with the Firm.

By using this website or communicating with us, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. Please also review our Terms of Use and our SMS Terms & Conditions.

1. Personal Information We Collect

Information you provide to us

We collect information you choose to give us when you complete a contact or consultation form, schedule an appointment, call or text our office, send us an email, or become a client. This may include:

• Contact information — name, email address, mailing address, and telephone number, including mobile phone number.
• Inquiry and matter information — the type of legal matter, a description of your situation, and the names of other people or parties involved (collected so we can check for conflicts of interest).
• Scheduling information — your preferred appointment dates, times, and method of contact.
• SMS consent records — your mobile number, the date, time, and method by which you agreed to receive text messages, and any opt-out (STOP) or opt-in (START) requests.
• Communications — the content of messages, texts, emails, voicemails, and documents you send us.
• Billing and payment information — invoices, payment history, and payment details. Card and bank payments are processed by third-party payment processors; we do not store full card numbers on our website.
• Client information — if you become a client, additional information needed to provide legal services, such as financial, property, family, or other details relevant to your matter.

Information collected automatically

When you visit our website, we and our service providers may automatically collect technical information, such as IP address, browser type, device type, pages visited, referring website, date and time of visit, and general usage information. This information is collected through cookies, analytics tools, server logs, and similar technologies.

2. How We Use Personal Information

We use personal information to:

• Respond to your inquiries and consultation requests;
• Check for conflicts of interest before accepting a matter;
• Schedule, confirm, and remind you of appointments;
• Provide legal services and communicate with you about your matter;
• Send text messages you have agreed to receive, such as appointment reminders, consultation follow-up, case and document notifications, and account and billing notices, as described in our SMS Terms & Conditions;
• Honor opt-out requests and keep records of your communication preferences;
• Send invoices, process payments, and maintain accounting and trust-account records;
• Operate, maintain, secure, and improve our website;
• Monitor website traffic and prevent spam, fraud, and misuse; and
• Comply with legal, ethical, and professional obligations, including the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct and court rules.

We do not sell personal information.

3. Who We Share Personal Information With

We share personal information only as described below:

• Service providers — companies that perform services for us under confidentiality obligations, such as website hosting, form and scheduling tools, client-intake and practice-management software, telephone and text-messaging providers, email services, document-signing and e-filing services, payment processors, and IT and security providers. They may use information only as needed to provide services to the Firm.
• Parties to your legal matter — when you are a client and it is necessary to carry out your representation, and consistent with our duties of confidentiality, we may share information with courts, government agencies, county recorders and auditors, title companies, opposing counsel, and other persons involved in your matter.
• Legal compliance and protection — when required by law, subpoena, court order, or the Rules of Professional Conduct, or when necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of the Firm, our clients, or others.
• With your consent — when you direct or authorize us to share information.

4. SMS / Text Messaging Privacy

SMS consent is not shared with third parties. We do not share, sell, rent, or trade your mobile phone number, SMS opt-in data, or SMS consent with any third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes.

Text-messaging originator opt-in data and consent will not be shared with any third parties, except with the telephone and text-messaging service providers that deliver messages on our behalf, or as required by law. Those providers may use this information only to send and support our messages.

Messaging frequency may vary. Message and data rates may apply. To opt out at any time, text STOP. For assistance, text HELP or visit our website at https://www.southwestohiolaw.com/. For full details, see our SMS Terms & Conditions.

5. Website Forms and the Attorney-Client Relationship

Submitting information through this website, by text message, or by email does not create an attorney-client relationship. An attorney-client relationship exists only after Ohio Legacy Law agrees to represent you, usually in a written engagement agreement.

Please do not submit confidential, sensitive, or time-sensitive information through the website or by text message until an attorney-client relationship has been established. We will nevertheless treat information you give us about a potential matter with care and in keeping with our professional obligations to prospective clients.

6. Cookies and Analytics

This website uses cookies and similar technologies to help the site function, understand how visitors use it, and improve the user experience. You can set your browser to refuse cookies or alert you when cookies are being used. Some parts of the website may not work properly if cookies are disabled.

7. How We Protect Personal Information

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use, loss, or disclosure. Client information is also protected by our professional duty of confidentiality. However, no website, email, text message, or other electronic transmission is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

8. Data Retention

We keep personal information for as long as needed to respond to your inquiry, provide services, maintain business and accounting records, comply with legal and professional recordkeeping obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce agreements. Records of SMS consent and opt-out requests are kept as long as needed to honor your preferences and demonstrate compliance.

9. Links to Other Websites

Our website may link to third-party websites, such as scheduling, payment, review, map, and social-media sites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those websites. Please review their privacy policies.

10. Children’s Privacy

This website is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 through this website. If you believe a child has provided personal information to us through the website, please contact us so we can take appropriate action.

11. Your Choices

• Text messages: Reply STOP to any text to opt out, or START to opt back in.
• Email: Ask us to stop non-essential emails at any time.
• Access and correction: Contact us to review, update, correct, or delete personal information you submitted, subject to our legal, ethical, and recordkeeping obligations.
• Cookies: Adjust your browser settings to limit cookies.

You may choose not to provide personal information, but some features, such as consultation requests, require certain information for us to respond.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with a new effective date. Your continued use of the website or our services after changes are posted means you accept the revised Privacy Policy.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how your information is handled, please contact us:

Ohio Legacy Law
James E. Schroeder, Attorney at Law (Ohio Bar No. 0098621)
338 West Main Street, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133
Phone: (937) 402-2348
Email: jim@southwestohiolaw.com
Website: https://www.southwestohiolaw.com/