PRIVACY POLICY

Effective Date: August 4, 2026

This Privacy Policy (this "Policy") describes how The Law Office of J. Dawes, PLLC (the "Firm," "we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, discloses, and protects information obtained through our website located at www.dawesfamiylaw.com.(the "Site") and related services. By accessing or using the Site, you ("you" or "your") agree to this Policy and consent to our collection, use, and disclosure of your information as described herein.

ARTICLE 1 — IMPORTANT LEGAL NOTICES

I.  No Attorney-Client Relationship. Use of this Site, submission of an inquiry form, or communication with the Firm through the Site does not create an attorney-client relationship. An attorney-client relationship is formed only when the Firm and a prospective client execute a written engagement agreement. Do not send confidential, time-sensitive, or privileged information through the Site or via unencrypted email until an attorney-client relationship has been formally established.

II.  Confidentiality Caution. Communications sent through the Site, including contact forms, email, and other electronic transmissions, may not be secure or confidential and are not subject to attorney-client privilege unless and until you have been accepted as a client and have executed an engagement agreement. Do not include sensitive, confidential, or legally protected information in any inquiry or message submitted through the Site.

III.  No Legal Advice. The content on this Site is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The information provided may not reflect the most current legal developments and may not apply to your specific circumstances. You should consult with a qualified attorney regarding your particular situation.

IV.  Jurisdictional Limitations. The Firm is authorized to practice law in Texas. This Site is intended for use by individuals located in the United States. The Firm does not seek to represent anyone seeking representation based on viewing this Site in a state or jurisdiction where the Site fails to comply with all applicable laws and ethical rules.

ARTICLE 2 — DEFINITIONS

For purposes of this Policy, the following terms have the meanings set forth below:

I.  "Personal Information" means information that identifies, relates to, describes, or is reasonably capable of being associated with a particular individual, including but not limited to name, postal address, email address, telephone number, Internet Protocol (IP) address, device identifiers, and similar data.

II.  "Sensitive Personal Information" means Personal Information that reveals a social security number, driver's license number, passport number, financial account information, precise geolocation, health information, or other information requiring heightened protection under applicable law.

III.  "Usage Data" means information collected automatically when you access or use the Site, including but not limited to IP address, browser type, operating system, referring URLs, pages viewed, time and date of access, and clickstream data.

IV.  "Cookies" means small data files placed on your device by the Site or third-party services to facilitate functionality, analytics, and advertising.

v. "Third Party" means any individual or entity other than you or the Firm, including service providers, analytics providers, advertising networks, and other business partners.

ARTICLE 3 — INFORMATION WE COLLECT

I.  Information You Provide Directly. We collect Personal Information that you voluntarily submit to us through the Site, including:

A.  Contact and Inquiry Forms. When you submit a contact form, case evaluation request, consultation request, newsletter subscription, or similar inquiry, we collect your name, email address, telephone number, and any information you include in your message or description of your legal issue.

B.  Employment Applications. If you apply for employment or submit a resume through the Site, we collect your name, contact information, employment history, educational background, professional credentials, references, and any other information included in your application materials.

C.  Email and Correspondence. When you communicate with us via email or other electronic means, we collect the contents of your message, your email address, and any metadata associated with the communication.

D.  Account Registration. If we offer client portals or secure login areas, we collect usernames, passwords, security questions, and related authentication information.

E.  Payment Information. If you make payments through the Site, our third-party payment processors collect payment card information, billing address, and transaction details. We do not store complete payment card numbers on our servers.

II.  Information Collected Automatically. We automatically collect Usage Data when you access or use the Site, including:

A.  Device and Browser Information. Device type, operating system, browser type and version, screen resolution, and device identifiers.

B.  Log Data. IP address, date and time of access, pages viewed, time spent on pages, referring and exit pages, and clickstream data.

C.  Location Data. General geographic location inferred from your IP address. We do not collect precise geolocation data unless you expressly consent.

D.  Cookies and Tracking Technologies. Our Third-Party service providers and we use Cookies, web beacons, pixel tags, and similar tracking technologies to collect Usage Data and facilitate Site functionality. For more information, see Article 5.

III.  Information from Third Parties. We may receive Personal Information about you from Third Parties, including:

A.  Referral Sources. Other attorneys, clients, or professional contacts who refer you to the Firm.

B.  Public Records. Court records, public filings, property records, and other publicly available sources relevant to your legal matter.

C.  Background Check Providers. For employment applicants, we may obtain background check reports, professional references, and credential verifications from Third-Party vendors.

D.  Marketing and Analytics Providers. Demographics, interests, and online behavior data from marketing platforms, analytics services, and advertising networks.

IV.  Information Related to SMS and Text Messaging. If you opt in to receive text messages from the Firm, we collect your mobile telephone number, opt-in timestamp, carrier information, and message interaction data. Your participation in our SMS program is governed by our SMS Terms of Service, available at www.dawesfamilylaw.com. Standard message and data rates may apply.

ARTICLE 4 — HOW WE USE YOUR INFORMATION

I.  Legal Services and Client Representation. We use Personal Information to evaluate potential legal matters, provide legal advice and representation, communicate with clients and prospective clients, manage cases, prepare legal documents, conduct legal research, and fulfill our professional obligations.

II.  Respond to Inquiries. We use the information you provide through contact forms, emails, and other communications to respond to your questions, schedule consultations, provide information about our services, and communicate with you regarding your inquiry.

III.  Marketing and Communications. We use Personal Information to:

A.  Send newsletters, legal updates, event invitations, firm announcements, and other marketing communications, subject to your consent where required by law.

B.  Deliver promotional messages via email, SMS, or other channels in accordance with your communication preferences.

C.  Personalize and improve the content and relevance of our communications.

D.  Conduct surveys, request feedback, and gather testimonials.

IV.  Site Operation and Improvement. We use Usage Data and Personal Information to:

A.  Operate, maintain, secure, and improve the Site and our services.

B.  Diagnose technical problems, monitor Site performance, and prevent fraud and abuse.

C.  Analyze user behavior, preferences, and trends to enhance user experience and develop new features.

D.  Conduct A/B testing and other research to optimize Site design and functionality.

v. Employment and Recruiting. We use information submitted by employment applicants to evaluate qualifications, conduct interviews, perform background checks, and make hiring decisions.

VI.  Legal Compliance and Protection. We use Personal Information to:

A.  Comply with applicable laws, regulations, legal processes, and government requests.

B.  Enforce our Terms of Use, this Policy, and other agreements.

C.  Detect, prevent, and respond to fraud, security incidents, and illegal activity.

D.  Protect the rights, property, and safety of the Firm, our clients, and others.

VII.  Business Transactions. In connection with any merger, acquisition, sale of assets, or similar corporate transaction, we may transfer Personal Information to the acquiring or successor entity, subject to this Policy or a successor privacy policy.

ARTICLE 5 — COOKIES AND TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES

I.  Types of Cookies We Use. The Site uses the following categories of Cookies:

A.  Strictly Necessary Cookies. Required for the Site to function properly, including session management, security, and access to secure areas.

B.  Functional Cookies. Enable enhanced functionality and personalization, such as remembering your preferences, language settings, and login credentials.

C.  Analytics Cookies. Collect Usage Data to help us understand how visitors interact with the Site, which pages are most popular, and how users navigate the Site. We use "Google Analytics " for this purpose.

D.  Advertising and Marketing Cookies. Track your online activity to deliver targeted advertisements and measure campaign effectiveness. We may use Google Ads for advertising purposes.

II.  Third-Party Cookies. Third-Party service providers, including analytics providers, advertising networks, and social media platforms, may place Cookies on your device when you visit the Site. These Third Parties have their own privacy policies governing their use of your information.

III.  Cookie Management. Most web browsers are set to accept Cookies by default. You can configure your browser to refuse all Cookies, accept only certain Cookies, or notify you when a Cookie is set. However, disabling Cookies may limit your ability to use certain features of the Site. To manage Cookies:

A.  Browser Settings. Adjust your browser's privacy and security settings to control Cookie preferences. Consult your browser's help documentation for instructions.

B.  Opt-Out Tools. Use industry opt-out tools such as the Network Advertising Initiative opt-out page at www.networkadvertising.org/choices or the Digital Advertising Alliance opt-out page at www.aboutads.info/choices.

C.  Do Not Track. Some browsers offer a "Do Not Track" (DNT) signal. The Site does not currently respond to DNT signals because there is no industry standard for interpreting and honoring them.

IV.  Other Tracking Technologies. In addition to Cookies, our Third-Party partners and we may use web beacons, pixel tags, clear GIFs, and similar technologies embedded in web pages, emails, and advertisements to track user interactions, measure campaign performance, and deliver personalized content.

ARTICLE 6 — HOW WE SHARE YOUR INFORMATION

I.  Service Providers and Vendors. We share Personal Information with Third-Party service providers who perform services on our behalf, including:

A.  Website hosting, maintenance, and technical support providers.

B.  Email delivery and marketing automation platforms.

C.  Analytics and data analysis services.

D.  Payment processors and billing services.

E.  Customer relationship management (CRM) systems.

F.  Document management and cloud storage providers.

G.  Background check and credential verification services for employment applicants.

These service providers are contractually obligated to protect your information, use it only for the purposes for which it was disclosed, and comply with applicable privacy and security requirements.

II.  Legal and Professional Obligations. We may disclose Personal Information:

A.  To co-counsel, expert witnesses, court reporters, mediators, arbitrators, and other professionals assisting with legal representation.

B.  To opposing parties, courts, arbitration panels, and government agencies as required or permitted in connection with legal proceedings, discovery, or regulatory compliance.

C.  When required by law, subpoena, court order, or other legal process.

D.  To comply with professional responsibility rules, ethical obligations, and bar association requirements.

III.  Business Transfers. In the event of a merger, acquisition, reorganization, sale of assets, bankruptcy, or other corporate transaction, Personal Information may be transferred to the acquiring or successor entity. We will provide notice of any such transfer and any choices you may have regarding your Personal Information.

IV.  Consent and Direction. We may share Personal Information with Third Parties when you have provided your consent or directed us to do so, such as:

A.  Sharing information with other attorneys or professionals you have retained.

B.  Coordinating with insurance companies, lenders, or other parties involved in your legal matter.

C.  Publishing testimonials or case results with your permission.

v. Aggregate and De-Identified Information. We may share aggregated, anonymized, or de-identified information that does not identify you personally for research, marketing, analytics, and other lawful business purposes. Such information is not subject to this Policy.

VI.  Protection of Rights and Safety. We may disclose Personal Information when we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to:

A.  Protect the rights, property, or safety of the Firm, our clients, employees, or the public.

B.  Detect, prevent, or respond to fraud, security incidents, or illegal activity.

C.  Enforce our Terms of Use, this Policy, or other agreements.

ARTICLE 7 — DATA SECURITY

I.  Security Measures. We implement reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect Personal Information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, and destruction. These measures include:

A.  Encryption of data in transit using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) or Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols.

B.  Encryption of Sensitive Personal Information at rest.

C.  Access controls, authentication mechanisms, and role-based permissions to limit access to Personal Information.

D.  Regular security assessments, vulnerability testing, and monitoring for security threats.

E.  Employee training on data privacy and security practices.

F.  Secure disposal of Personal Information when no longer needed.

II.  Limitations. No method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure. While we strive to protect your Personal Information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. You transmit information to us at your own risk.

III.  Breach Notification. In the event of a data breach that compromises your Personal Information, we will notify affected individuals and applicable regulatory authorities in accordance with applicable law.

ARTICLE 8 — DATA RETENTION

I.  Retention Period. We retain Personal Information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Policy, comply with legal and professional obligations, resolve disputes, and enforce our agreements. Retention periods vary depending on the nature of the information and the purpose for which it was collected.

II.  Legal and Professional Requirements. We retain client files, case-related information, and communications in accordance with applicable professional responsibility rules, statutes of limitations, and legal hold obligations. Even after a matter concludes, we may retain information to comply with ethics rules, defend against claims, and fulfill record-keeping requirements.

III.  Marketing Communications. We retain contact information and communication preferences for marketing purposes until you opt out or request deletion, subject to legal retention requirements.

IV.  Employment Records. We retain employment applications and related records in accordance with applicable employment laws and record-keeping obligations.

v. Secure Disposal. When Personal Information is no longer needed, we securely delete or destroy it in accordance with our data retention and disposal policies.

ARTICLE 9 — CHILDREN'S PRIVACY

I.  Age Restriction. The Site is not directed to children under the age of thirteen (13). We do not knowingly collect Personal Information from children under 13. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected Personal Information from a child under 13, we will promptly delete such information from our records.

II.  Parental Notice. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that your child under 13 has provided Personal Information to us, please contact us at legalassistant@dawesfamilylaw.com so that we may delete the information.

ARTICLE 10 — STATE PRIVACY RIGHTS

I.  California Residents. [If you are a California resident, you may ask businesses to disclose what personal information they have about you and what they do with that information, to delete your personal information, to direct businesses not to sell or share your personal information, to correct inaccurate information that they have about you, and to limit businesses’ use and disclosure of your sensitive personal information:

• Right to know: You can request that a business disclose to you: (1) the categories and/or specific pieces of personal information they have collected about you, (2) the categories of sources for that personal information, (3) the purposes for which the business uses that information, (4) the categories of third parties with whom the business discloses the information, and (5) the categories of information that the business sells or discloses to third parties. You can make a request to know up to twice a year, free of charge.

• Right to delete: You can request that businesses delete personal information they collected from you and tell their service providers to do the same, subject to certain exceptions (such as if the business is legally required to keep the information).

• Right to opt-out of sale or sharing: You may request that businesses stop selling or sharing your personal information (“opt-out”), including via a user-enabled global privacy control. Businesses cannot sell or share your personal information after they receive your opt-out request unless you later authorize them to do so again.

• Right to correct: You may ask businesses to correct inaccurate information that they have about you.

• Right to limit use and disclosure of sensitive personal information: You can direct businesses to only use your sensitive personal information (for example, your Social Security number, financial account information, your precise geolocation data, or your genetic data) for limited purposes, such as providing you with the services you requested. You also have the right to be notified, before or at the point businesses collect your personal information, of the types of personal information they are collecting and what they may do with that information. Generally, businesses cannot discriminate against you for exercising your rights under the CCPA. Businesses cannot make you waive these rights, and any contract provision that says you waive these rights is unenforceable.

II.  Virginia Residents. • The VCDPA allows consumers to request that the controller of their personal data: o Confirm if the controller is actually processing their personal data. o Correct inaccuracies in the consumer’s personal data that is collected by the controller. o Delete personal data provided by or obtained about the consumer. o Obtain copies of the personal data collected by the controller. o Opt out of the processing of personal data for purposes of targeted advertising, the sale of personal data, or further profiling.   

III.  Colorado Residents. Under the act, Colorado consumers will gain additional insight into what personal data controllers collect, share, and sell, and how that data is used. Additionally, Colorado consumers will have the following enumerated rights with respect to their personal data:

·       The right to opt out from the sale of their personal data, or use of personal data for targeted advertising and certain types of profiling;

·       The right to know whether a controller is collecting personal data;

·       The right to access personal data that a controller has collected about them;

·       The right to correct personal data;

·       The right to delete personal data; and

·       The right to download and remove personal data from a platform in a format that allows the transfer to another platform.

IV.  Connecticut Residents. The CTDPA provides Connecticut residents the following enumerated rights:

o   The right to access personal data that a controller has collected about them, including:
    ○ Inferences about the consumer derived from the personal data; and 
    ○ Whether the controller or processor uses the consumer’s data for profiling.

o   The right to correct inaccuracies in their personal data.

o   The right to delete their personal data, including personal data that a controller collected through third parties.

o   The right to obtain a copy of their personal data in a portable and readily usable format that allows them to transfer the data to another controller with ease.

o   The right to obtain a list of third parties to which the controller sold the consumer’s personal data, or if the controller does not maintain a consumer-specific list, a list of all third parties to which the controller sold personal data. 

o   The right to opt-out of:
    ○ The sale of their personal data;
    ○ The processing of personal data for the purposes of targeted advertising; and 
    ○ Profiling that may have a legal or other significant impact.

v. Other States. Residents of other states may have privacy rights under applicable state law. Please contact us legalassistant@dawesfamilylaw.com to exercise your rights or obtain more information.

VI.  Exercising Your Rights. To exercise your privacy rights, you may submit a request by:

A.  Emailing us at legalassistant@dawesfamilylaw.com

B.  Calling us at (832) 680-3878

C.  Submitting a request through our online form at www.dawesfamilylaw.com.

We will verify your identity before processing your request and respond within the timeframe required by applicable law. You may designate an authorized agent to submit requests on your behalf by providing written authorization.

ARTICLE 11 — INTERNATIONAL USERS AND DATA TRANSFERS

I.  United States Operations. The Firm is based in the United States, and the Site is hosted on servers located in the United States. If you access the Site from outside the United States, your information will be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States.

II.  Non-U.S. Residents. The United States may not provide the same level of data protection as your home country. By using the Site, you consent to the transfer of your Personal Information to the United States and its processing in accordance with this Policy and applicable U.S. law.

III.  European Economic Area (EEA) and United Kingdom (UK). If you are located in the EEA or UK, you may have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or UK GDPR, including rights to access, rectification, erasure, restriction of processing, data portability, and objection. To exercise these rights, please contact us at legalassistant@dawesfamilylaw.com

ARTICLE 12 — THIRD-PARTY LINKS AND SERVICES

I.  Third-Party Websites. The Site may contain links to third-party websites, services, or resources not operated or controlled by the Firm. This Policy does not apply to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices, content, or security of third-party websites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit.

II.  Social Media. The Site may include social media features, such as links to our profiles on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, or other platforms, and "share" or "like" buttons. Your interactions with these features are governed by the privacy policies of the respective social media platforms.

III.  Third-Party Services. We may use third-party services for analytics, advertising, payment processing, and other purposes. These Third Parties may collect information directly from your device through their own cookies and tracking technologies. Their use of your information is governed by their own privacy policies.

ARTICLE 13 — YOUR COMMUNICATION PREFERENCES

I.  Marketing Opt-Out. You may opt out of receiving marketing emails from us at any time by:

A.  Clicking the "unsubscribe" link included in the footer of our marketing emails.

B.  Emailing us at legalassistant@dawesfamiylaw.com with your opt-out request.

C.  Contacting us at (832) 680-3878.

Please note that even if you opt out of marketing communications, we may still send you transactional or administrative messages related to your inquiry, client relationship, or use of the Site.

II.  SMS Opt-Out. If you have opted in to receive text messages from the Firm, you may opt out at any time by texting "STOP," "END," "CANCEL," "UNSUBSCRIBE," or "QUIT" to the number from which you received messages. You will receive a confirmation message confirming your opt-out. For more information, see our SMS Terms of Service at [INSERT SMS TERMS URL].

III.  Cookie Preferences. You may manage your Cookie preferences through your browser settings or third-party opt-out tools as described in Article 5.

ARTICLE 14 — CHANGES TO THIS POLICY

I.  Right to Modify. We reserve the right to modify, update, or replace this Policy at any time, in our sole discretion, to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. Changes to this Policy will be effective immediately upon posting the updated Policy on the Site.

II.  Notice of Material Changes. If we make material changes to this Policy that affect how we collect, use, or disclose your Personal Information, we will provide notice by:

A.  Posting a prominent notice on the Site.

B.  Updating the "Effective Date" at the top of this Policy.

C.  Sending an email notification to the email address you have provided, if applicable.

III.  Continued Use. Your continued use of the Site after the posting of changes constitutes your acceptance of such changes. We encourage you to review this Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

ARTICLE 15 — CONTACT INFORMATION

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Policy or our privacy practices, please contact us at:

The Law Office of J. Dawes PLLC
Address: 2820 Cleburne Houston, Texas 77004
Email: legalassistant@dawesfamilylaw.com
Phone: (832) 680-3878

We will respond to your inquiry within a reasonable timeframe in accordance with applicable law.

BY USING THIS SITE, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD, AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THIS PRIVACY POLICY.