Cordaie Paralegal Services respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information entrusted to us.

This Privacy Policy explains how Cordaie Paralegal Services (“Cordaie,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, stores, protects, and discloses personal information obtained through our website, online forms, communications, client portals, and legal services.

Discount Divorce Ontario (“DDO”) is a service of Cordaie Paralegal Services.

This Privacy Policy is intended to describe our privacy practices in a clear and transparent manner and to reflect our obligations under applicable privacy legislation and our professional obligations concerning client confidentiality.

1. Personal Information We May Collect

The information we collect depends on how you interact with us, the services you request, and whether you become a client.

We may collect personal information such as:

• Your name;

• Email address;

• Telephone number;

• Mailing and residential addresses;

• Previous addresses where relevant;

• Date of birth;

• Marriage date and place of marriage;

• Marital status and information concerning previous marriages or divorces;

• Information about your spouse or former spouse;

• Contact information for your spouse or former spouse;

• Information about children where relevant to your matter;

• Parenting, residence, and other child-related information where relevant;

• Employment, occupation, workplace, and income information where relevant;

• Financial information and financial documents where relevant;

• Tax documents, Notices of Assessment, pay information, bank statements, and similar records where relevant;

• Court file numbers and other court-assigned identifiers;

• Information concerning existing or previous court proceedings and court orders;

• Divorce applications, court forms, agreements, correspondence, and other legal documents;

• Government-issued identification where required or appropriate for identity verification or the legal matter;

• Electronic and handwritten signatures;

• Information contained in documents, photographs, attachments, messages, emails, voicemail messages, or other communications you provide to us;

• Information provided by your spouse, former spouse, lawyer, paralegal, process server, court, government body, or another person involved in your matter;

• Information about other individuals that you provide to us where relevant to your legal matter; and

• Other information reasonably necessary to provide or administer the legal services requested.

For divorce and family-law matters, we may collect information concerning your family circumstances, separation, children, support arrangements, property, agreements, court proceedings, and other matters relevant to the legal services requested.

Depending on the circumstances, clients may also voluntarily provide information concerning health, safety, domestic violence, abuse, immigration, citizenship, or other sensitive circumstances. We do not routinely request such information unless it is relevant or necessary to a matter.

We collect only information that is reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it is collected, subject to our legal, professional, regulatory, and operational obligations.

2. Information We Do Not Request

Cordaie does not ordinarily request Social Insurance Numbers (SINs) as part of our routine divorce or legal-services intake.

Please do not provide your SIN or other highly sensitive information unless Cordaie specifically requests it and explains why it is required.

If you provide information that was not requested, we may retain, delete, or otherwise handle that information as appropriate based on the circumstances, our legal and professional obligations, and applicable privacy requirements.

3. Contact Forms

Information submitted through contact forms on our website may be processed through third-party form technology used by Cordaie.

Our website currently uses Zite for certain online forms.

Information submitted through a contact form may include your name, email address, telephone number, and the information you choose to include in your message.

We use information submitted through contact forms to respond to inquiries, provide information about our services, administer the website and related communications, and determine whether further communication is appropriate.

Submitting a contact form does not automatically create a paralegal-client relationship.

4. Eligibility and Intake Forms

Cordaie uses online eligibility and intake forms to collect information necessary to determine whether a person's circumstances may be appropriate for the services offered.

Our online forms may be provided through Zite.

Eligibility forms may collect information concerning your marriage, separation, spouse, children, court matters, disputed issues, and other information necessary to assess whether our services may be appropriate.

Our intake process may also allow you to upload documents or supporting information.

Information submitted through these forms may be transmitted and stored through the technology providers supporting the forms and related services.

Cordaie uses reasonable safeguards and appropriate access controls in handling information submitted through these forms.

Completing an eligibility questionnaire or intake form does not, by itself, create a paralegal-client relationship.

5. Information Stored or Processed Outside Canada

Some technology and service providers used by Cordaie may store or process personal information outside Canada.

Because third-party providers may use infrastructure in different countries or jurisdictions, personal information may be subject to the laws of those jurisdictions.

We select and use service providers with consideration for privacy, security, legal, regulatory, professional, and operational requirements.

Where personal information is processed outside Canada, it may be accessible to courts, law-enforcement authorities, regulators, or other lawful authorities in accordance with the laws applicable to the service provider.

We do not represent that all personal information is stored exclusively in Canada.

6. Client File Management and Secure Client Portal

Where appropriate, client information obtained through our intake and legal-service processes is maintained as part of Cordaie's client file.

Cordaie uses PracticePanther for client-file management and related services.

Clients may be provided access to a secure PracticePanther client portal where they may be able to:

• View information or documents;

• Exchange messages;

• Upload documents;

• Receive invoices or payment requests; and

• Communicate with Cordaie concerning their matter.

Cordaie may also use Microsoft OneDrive for authorized cloud storage.

Client documents may also exist in other authorized systems or records where necessary for the administration, retention, or completion of a legal matter.

Depending on the circumstances, Cordaie may maintain paper files, original documents, electronic files, email records, and other records relating to a matter.

Access to client information is limited according to the person's role and the information reasonably required to perform assigned work.

Employees may access client information where necessary to perform their employment duties and are required to maintain confidentiality.

Independent contractor paralegals who are assigned to matters may be provided with information reasonably necessary to perform their assigned work. Independent contractors do not have unrestricted access to Cordaie's client files or systems and are subject to applicable confidentiality and professional obligations.

7. Identity Verification

Cordaie may use Veriff or another appropriate identity-verification service to assist with verifying a client's identity.

Where identity verification is required, the verification process may involve the collection and processing of identifying information and government-issued identification.

Depending on the circumstances, Cordaie may also receive or retain copies of government-issued identification as part of the client's legal file.

Where Cordaie retains identification information, it is handled as part of the client's secure file and is subject to applicable legal, professional, privacy, and retention requirements.

Clients should follow Cordaie's instructions concerning identity verification and should not send identification documents through an unapproved method unless requested.

8. How We Use Personal Information

We may use personal information to:

• Respond to inquiries;

• Determine whether our services may be suitable for your circumstances;

• Conduct preliminary conflict checks;

• Communicate with you;

• Provide legal services;

• Prepare legal documents;

• Prepare and file court documents;

• Communicate with courts and tribunals;

• Communicate with your lawyer, paralegal, or authorized representative;

• Communicate with the other party's lawyer or paralegal where appropriate;

• Arrange service of documents;

• Provide information to process servers where necessary;

• Monitor and administer court filings;

• Maintain client and business records;

• Process invoices and payments;

• Send payment reminders;

• Verify identity;

• Maintain and protect our systems;

• Meet legal, regulatory, professional, accounting, insurance, and record-keeping obligations;

• Respond to complaints, disputes, audits, investigations, or regulatory requirements;

• Obtain professional or legal advice where appropriate;

• Protect the security and integrity of our systems and services;

• Administer and improve our services where appropriate;

• Prevent fraud, misuse, or unauthorized access;

• Comply with applicable laws and legal requirements; and

• Perform other purposes that are reasonably related to the purposes for which the information was collected or otherwise permitted or required by law.

We do not use personal information for unrelated purposes without appropriate authority, consent, or other legal basis.

9. Marketing Communications

Submitting an eligibility questionnaire, contact form, or intake form does not automatically subscribe you to marketing communications.

Cordaie does not currently use client intake submissions as an automatic subscription to promotional marketing.

We may communicate with you where necessary to respond to an inquiry, administer a legal matter, provide requested services, send administrative information, address payment matters, or otherwise communicate for purposes related to your interaction with us.

If Cordaie introduces marketing communications in the future, we will handle those communications in accordance with applicable law and provide appropriate options for managing or unsubscribing from promotional communications where required.

10. Payment Information

Clients may make payments to Cordaie through methods that may include:

• Interac e-Transfer;

• Credit card through LawPay; and

• Cheque.

LawPay processes credit-card payments through its payment-processing systems. Cordaie does not intentionally receive or store clients' full credit-card numbers when payment is processed through LawPay.

PracticePanther may be used to issue invoices or payment requests.

Where payment is made by cheque, Cordaie may retain the original cheque or a copy of the cheque, including information appearing on the cheque. Such information may include banking information.

Cordaie may also retain payment records, invoices, receipts, transaction information, and other financial records as required for client-file, accounting, legal, professional, regulatory, and business purposes.

Third-party payment providers process payment information according to their own privacy and security practices.

11. Courts, Tribunals, Process Servers and Other Legal-Service Providers

Providing legal services may require Cordaie to disclose personal information to courts, tribunals, government bodies, process servers, lawyers, paralegals, court-filing services, witnesses, or other persons involved in a legal matter.

Depending on the circumstances, Cordaie may provide information or documents to:

• Courts and tribunals;

• Court or tribunal staff;

• Process servers;

• Court-filing or legal-service providers;

• Government bodies or public authorities;

• The other party or the other party's lawyer or paralegal where appropriate;

• A client's lawyer, paralegal, or authorized representative;

• Witnesses or other persons involved in a matter where appropriate;

• Professional regulators;

• Insurance providers or representatives;

• Collection agencies or collection-service providers where necessary to collect outstanding accounts;

• Cordaie's legal counsel or professional advisers; and

• Other persons where disclosure is authorized, permitted, or required by law or professional obligations.

When information is provided to a process server, Cordaie generally limits the information and documents provided to what is reasonably necessary to complete service.

Cordaie seeks to limit disclosures to the information reasonably necessary for the particular purpose.

12. Court and Tribunal Documents and Completed Matters

Cordaie may receive, prepare, file, store, and retain court and tribunal documents and correspondence as part of providing legal services.

Documents may be exchanged through:

• Secure client portals;

• Email;

• Online forms;

• Electronic-signature platforms;

• Postal mail;

• Courier services;

• Fax or online fax services; and

• Other appropriate communication methods.

Court and tribunal documents may become part of a court or tribunal record and may be subject to rules governing public access, disclosure, retention, or use.

Cordaie may retain copies of completed court documents and other records in accordance with applicable legal, professional, regulatory, and record-keeping requirements.

13. Communications

Depending on your preferences and the circumstances of your matter, Cordaie may communicate with you through:

• Email;

• Telephone;

• SMS/text messaging;

• Voicemail;

• Video conferencing;

• PracticePanther and its client portal;

• Online forms;

• Postal mail;

• Courier;

• Fax or online fax services;

• Social-media messaging; and

• Other communication methods that may be appropriate.

Cordaie commonly uses Grasshopper for business telephone and SMS services. In some circumstances, clients may also contact Cordaie by SMS through a Rogers-connected telephone number.

Cordaie commonly uses Zoom for video meetings, although another video-conferencing platform may occasionally be used where appropriate or requested.

Cordaie currently uses IceWarp for business email services and has previously used Google Mail/Gmail. Historical communications may remain in prior systems where records have been retained.

Relevant email correspondence may be retained as part of a client record where appropriate.

Clients may also communicate with Cordaie through social-media or third-party messaging platforms. These platforms are operated by third parties and may have their own privacy and security practices.

Telephone calls and video meetings are not routinely recorded by Cordaie.

Clients should avoid sending highly sensitive information through social-media messaging, ordinary text messages, or other communication methods unless Cordaie has specifically requested or approved that method.

14. Cookies, Analytics and Advertising Technologies

The Cordaie website may use cookies, pixels, analytics tools, and similar technologies for website functionality, security, analytics, performance measurement, and advertising measurement.

Cordaie currently uses or may use technologies including:

• Google Analytics;

• Google Search Console;

• Google Ads conversion tracking; and

• Other website analytics or advertising technologies that may be implemented from time to time.

These technologies may collect information such as:

• IP address;

• Browser or device information;

• Pages viewed;

• Referring website;

• General usage information;

• Interaction with website content;

• Conversion or advertising information; and

• Other technical information associated with website use.

We use this information to understand website performance, improve the website, measure advertising effectiveness, and understand how visitors interact with our services.

Where required by applicable law, appropriate consent or privacy choices may be provided for non-essential cookies or similar technologies.

Third-party analytics and advertising providers may process information according to their own privacy policies and practices.

15. Website Chat and AI-Assisted Features

Cordaie may introduce website chat, automated communication, or AI-assisted website features from time to time.

No such feature should be understood to create a paralegal-client relationship merely because a visitor uses it.

If a website chat or AI-assisted feature is introduced, information submitted through that feature may be processed by the technology provider supporting the feature.

Visitors should not provide unnecessary confidential, financial, identification, health, or other highly sensitive information through website chat or an AI-assisted feature unless Cordaie specifically instructs them to do so.

If a new chat or AI-assisted feature materially changes how personal information is collected, used, or disclosed, this Privacy Policy may be updated to provide additional information about that feature and its provider.

16. Reviews, Testimonials and Case Examples

Cordaie may display reviews or testimonials that clients have voluntarily made publicly available or have authorized Cordaie to use.

Testimonials will be used only where appropriate authorization has been obtained or where otherwise permitted.

Cordaie may also use generalized, anonymized, or de-identified case examples for educational, informational, or marketing purposes.

We will not intentionally identify a client through a case example without appropriate authorization or other legal authority.

When using reviews, testimonials, or case examples, Cordaie will take reasonable steps to protect confidential client information and comply with applicable professional and privacy obligations.

17. Information About Children

Our services are intended for adults.

However, divorce and family-law matters may require information concerning children.

Where relevant to a legal matter, a parent, guardian, or other authorized person may provide information concerning a child, including:

• Name;

• Date of birth;

• Residence;

• Parenting arrangements;

• Parenting schedules;

• Support information; and

• Other information reasonably necessary to address the legal matter.

Cordaie collects and uses such information only where relevant to providing or administering the requested legal services or fulfilling applicable legal, court, regulatory, or professional requirements.

18. Security Safeguards

Cordaie uses administrative, technical, and physical safeguards appropriate to the nature and sensitivity of the information in our custody or control.

Depending on the circumstances, safeguards may include:

• Password and access controls for computers and systems;

• Automatic device locking;

• Restricted access to client-management systems;

• Restricted access to client files based on work responsibilities;

• Confidentiality obligations for employees;

• Confidentiality and professional obligations applicable to independent contractor paralegals;

• Limiting contractor access to information reasonably necessary for assigned work;

• Removal of employee and contractor access when their work with Cordaie ends;

• Instructions not to share login credentials;

• Password-protected Wi-Fi/network access;

• Secure client portals;

• Secure electronic systems and cloud services;

• Physical security for paper client files and original documents;

• Secure handling of identification and financial information;

• Secure destruction of confidential paper records;

• Secure deletion or disposal of electronic information when appropriate; and

• Other safeguards appropriate to the circumstances.

No electronic system, communication method, website, internet transmission, or storage system can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Accordingly, while Cordaie takes reasonable steps to protect personal information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

19. Retention of Information

Cordaie retains personal information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected and for other legitimate purposes, including legal, professional, regulatory, court, accounting, insurance, record-keeping, dispute-resolution, and operational requirements.

Retention periods may vary depending on:

• The type of legal matter;

• Whether a professional relationship was established;

• Applicable legal and regulatory requirements;

• Professional record-keeping obligations;

• Court or tribunal requirements;

• The nature and sensitivity of the information;

• Whether a dispute, complaint, audit, investigation, or potential claim exists; and

• Other legitimate operational or legal considerations.

Cordaie may retain records from prospective clients or inquiries where appropriate, even if a matter does not proceed.

When information is no longer required, Cordaie may securely delete, destroy, or otherwise dispose of it in accordance with applicable requirements.

Paper records containing confidential information are securely destroyed rather than placed in ordinary garbage or recycling.

Electronic records may be securely deleted or disposed of when no longer required, subject to applicable retention requirements.

Information retained by third-party service providers may remain subject to those providers' own retention and backup practices.

20. Access, Correction and Deletion Requests

You may contact Cordaie to request access to personal information that we hold about you or to request correction of information that you believe is inaccurate or incomplete.

You may also ask us to update or correct your contact information or other personal information.

In some circumstances, you may request deletion of personal information.

Please note: Cordaie may be required or permitted to retain information despite a deletion request where necessary to satisfy legal, professional, regulatory, court, accounting, insurance, record-keeping, conflict-checking, dispute-resolution, or other legitimate obligations.

We may need to verify your identity before responding to an access, correction, or privacy request.

Privacy-related requests may be directed to:

Cordaie Paralegal Services
Email: divorce@cordaie.com
Telephone: 844-494-6463

If you have a concern about our handling of personal information, we encourage you to contact us so that we can review and address the concern.

21. Contact Us About Privacy

If you have questions, concerns, or requests concerning this Privacy Policy or Cordaie's handling of personal information, please contact:

Cordaie Paralegal Services
Email: divorce@cordaie.com
Telephone: 844-494-6463

We will review privacy concerns and requests in accordance with applicable privacy legislation, professional obligations, and our legal and regulatory requirements.