Privacy Policy

SR Solicitors ("we", "us", "our") is committed to protecting your personal data and respecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and share your personal information when you visit our website or engage our legal services.

1. Who we are

SR Solicitors is a solicitors' practice authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Our registered office is at SR Solicitors, Yeoland Meadow, Yeoland Lane, Swimbridge, EX32 0QU.

We are the data controller for the personal information described in this policy. If you have any questions about how we handle your data, please contact us at steph@srsolicitors.co.uk.

2. What information we collect

We may collect and process the following categories of personal data:

• Contact details — name, email address, phone number, postal address.
• Identification data — proof of identity and address (for compliance with anti-money laundering regulations).
• Family and relationship information — details of partners, children, beneficiaries, and other relevant parties (for wills, probate, and estate planning matters).
• Financial information — asset values, income, and other financial details relevant to your matter.
• Health information — only where directly relevant to your matter (for example, when preparing a Lasting Power of Attorney).
• Communication records — correspondence, file notes, and records of meetings or calls.
• Website data — IP address, browser type, pages visited, and cookie preferences when you use our website.

3. How we collect your information

• Directly from you when you contact us, fill out a form, or instruct us on a matter.
• From third parties such as identity verification services, other solicitors, financial institutions, HM Revenue & Customs, the Land Registry, and the Office of the Public Guardian.
• Automatically through our website (see our Cookie Policy).

When you submit an enquiry through our website contact form, your details (name, email address, phone number, service of interest, and message) are sent directly to us by email using a third-party email delivery provider. We use this information solely to respond to your enquiry.

4. How we use your information

We use your personal data to:

• Provide legal services and advice.
• Verify your identity and comply with anti-money laundering and other regulatory obligations.
• Respond to your enquiries and communicate with you about your matter.
• Issue invoices and process payments.
• Keep records as required by law and the SRA.
• Improve our website and services.

5. Legal basis for processing

We process your personal data on one or more of the following legal bases:

• Contract — to perform our retainer with you.
• Legal obligation — to comply with regulatory and statutory requirements (for example, anti-money laundering).
• Legitimate interests — to run our business effectively, including marketing, record-keeping, and improving our services.
• Consent — where we ask for it (for example, optional cookies).

6. Sharing your information

We may share your information with:

• Other professionals involved in your matter (counsel, other solicitors, accountants, etc.).
• Government bodies and regulators (HMRC, Land Registry, Probate Registry, OPG, SRA, etc.).
• Third-party service providers (IT, identity verification, secure file storage, accounting).
• Our website hosting and email delivery providers — who host the website and transmit the enquiries you submit through it. They process data on our behalf under strict data-protection terms.
• Insurers, auditors, and our professional advisors.
• Courts and law enforcement where required by law.

We do not sell your personal data to third parties, and we never share it for marketing purposes without your consent.

7. How long we keep your information

We do not retain original documents. All files are stored electronically and kept indefinitely. You may request a copy at any time; an administrative fee may apply depending on the duration since file closure.

8. Where we store your information

Your data is stored on secure systems within the UK and the European Economic Area. Enquiries submitted through our website are transmitted by our email delivery provider on servers within the European Economic Area. Where data is processed outside the EEA (for example, by a US-based cloud provider), we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the UK Information Commissioner's Office.

9. Security

We take the security of your data seriously. We use encryption, access controls, and other technical and organisational measures to protect against unauthorised access, loss, or alteration. Despite our best efforts, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and you accept this risk when sharing information with us electronically.

10. Your rights

Under UK data protection law, you have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you.
• Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
• Request deletion of your data (subject to our legal and regulatory retention obligations).
• Object to or restrict our processing of your data in certain circumstances.
• Request that we transfer your data to another organisation (data portability).
• Withdraw consent where we rely on consent to process your data.
• Lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ico.org.uk) if you believe we have mishandled your data.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at steph@srsolicitors.co.uk.

11. Marketing

We do not send unsolicited marketing communications. If you have agreed to receive updates from us, you can opt out at any time by replying to any email we send or by contacting us directly.

12. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time. The latest version will always be available on this page, with the date of the most recent update shown at the top.

13. Contact us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise any of your rights, please contact us at steph@srsolicitors.co.uk, by phone on 01271 624046, or by post at the address above.