WEBSITE TERMS OF USE
Effective: March 2026 (Updated October 2026)
1. General Information Only
The content on this website is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal matters depend on specific facts and applicable law. You should not act or refrain from acting based solely on information found on this website without obtaining legal advice specific to your situation.
2. No Lawyer-Client Relationship
Accessing this website, submitting an online form, or communicating with us through email does not create a solicitor-client relationship.
A solicitor-client relationship is formed only when:
A. We confirm in writing that we are retained; and
B. A formal written retainer agreement has been executed.
C. Until that time, please do not send confidential, privileged, or time-sensitive information.
3. Communications and security
We take reasonable steps to maintain secure systems and safeguard information. However:
A. Email is not inherently secure;
B. Internet transmission may be intercepted, altered, or delayed; and
C. No electronic system can guarantee absolute confidentiality or security.
By communicating with us electronically, you acknowledge and accept these inherent risks.
If your matter involves urgent deadlines or time-sensitive instructions, you must confirm instructions directly with a lawyer.
4. Payment Instructions and Fraud Prevention
Cyber fraud involving intercepted communications is an increasing risk in legal transactions, particularly in real estate matters.
We will not change payment or wire transfer instructions solely by email.
If you receive electronic instructions relating to the transfer of funds, you must independently verify those instructions by telephoning our office at a known and verified number before sending funds.
We are not responsible for losses resulting from intercepted, altered, or fraudulent communications where reasonable verification steps were not taken.
5. Website content and intellectual property
All content on this website is the property of Droit Ouimet-McPherson Law unless otherwise indicated.
You may: view and download materials for personal, non-commercial use only.
You may not:
a) Reproduce content for commercial purposes;
b) Modify, republish, distribute, or transmit materials;
c) Use content in a misleading context; or
d) Misrepresent our content as your own.
6. Third-party platforms and technologies
To deliver legal services efficiently, we use secure third-party software platforms and technology tools. These may include:
- Online intake and submission systems;
- Identity verification services;
- Probate and estates application software;
- Estate planning storage platforms;
- Practice management systems;
- Cloud storage providers; and
- AI-assisted document review tools.
- Use of our services may require personal information to be processed, transmitted, or stored throughout these systems.
Further details regarding how personal information is processed are set out in our Privacy Policy.
7. External links
Our website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the content, accuracy, or privacy practices of those external sites. Inclusion of a link does not imply endorsement.
8. Changes to these terms
We may update these Terms of Use from time to time. The current version will always be posted on this website with the effective date indicated.
Continued use of the website indicates acceptance of the current Terms of Use.
PRIVACY POLICY
Effective: March 2026 (Updated October 2026)
1. Our commitment
Droit Ouimet-McPherson Law is committed to safeguarding personal information entrusted to us in the course of providing legal services.
We comply with applicable Canadian privacy legislation, including the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA), and we maintain strict professional confidentiality obligations under the rules governing lawyers in Ontario.
2. What is personal information?
Personal information means information about an identifiable individual.
This may include:
– Name, address, email, and telephone number;
– Date of birth;
– Identification documents and verification records;
– Financial information;
– Property and transactional details;
– Corporate ownership and share information (where linked to individuals); and
– Estate and beneficiary information.
Information about corporations or business entities alone is not personal information, although it may be associated with personal information.
3. What we collect and why
We collect personal information only as necessary to:
– Determine whether we can act for you (including conflict checks);
– Provide legal advice and services;
– Complete real estate transactions;
– Prepare wills, powers of attorney, and estate plans;
– Prepare and file probate applications;
– Incorporate, reorganize, and maintain corporations;
– Conduct due diligence and transactional work;
– Verify identity as required by the Law Society of Ontario;
– Meet regulatory and professional obligations; and
– Manage billing and firm administration.
We collect information directly from you whenever possible.
In some cases, we may receive information from financial institutions, government registries, accountants, real estate agents, brokers, insurance agents, public records or other parties involved in a transaction.
4. Technology, third-party service providers, and data processing
To deliver services efficiently and securely, we use professional third-party software platforms, cloud-based systems, and technology tools.
These may include:
– Online intake and data submission platforms (e.g., AidaForm);
– Identity verification services (e.g., Veriff);
– Probate and estate administration software (e.g., Estateably);
– Estate asset management and digital vault services (e.g., BePrepared);
– AI-assisted drafting and contract review tools (e.g., Spellbook);
– Microsoft Office and Outlook (email communications);
– Microsoft OneDrive (cloud storage);
– Legal practice management software (e.g., Cosmolex);
– Secure payment processing and banking systems;
– Land registry, corporate registry, and government filing systems; and
– The County of Carleton Law Association Will Check Registry.
hese service providers may process, transmit, or temporarily store personal information on our behalf in order to enable us to provide legal services.
Personal information may be processed or stored outside Ontario or outside Canada through secure cloud infrastructure. As a result, personal information may be subject to the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is processed or stored.
We select reputable service providers that maintain technical, administrative, and contractual safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information.
5. AI-assisted tools
We may use artificial intelligence-assisted software tools to support document drafting, review, summarization, or analysis. These tools are used solely as support tools. All legal advice, professional judgment, and final work product are reviewed and exercised by a licensed lawyer.
6. Consent
We obtain consent to collect, use, and disclose personal information.
Consent may be express (written or electronic) or implied from the circumstances of the professional relationship.
By:
– Retaining our firm;
– Submitting information through our website;
– Completing online intake forms;
– Participating in identity verification processes; or
– Providing information during the course of representation,
you provide meaningful and informed consent to the collection, use, disclosure, storage, and processing of personal information for the purposes described in this policy, including disclosure to third-party service providers where reasonably necessary to deliver legal services.
If you provide personal information about other individuals (such as beneficiaries, shareholders, directors, family members, or employees), you confirm that you have the authority to provide that information and consent to its use for the purposes of legal representation.
You may withdraw consent, subject to legal or contractual restrictions. Withdrawal of consent may limit or prevent our ability to continue providing certain services.
7. Electronic communications and cybersecurity risk
While we employ reasonable safeguards, no electronic transmission or cloud-based storage system can guarantee absolute security.
Legal transactions, particularly real estate matters involving electronic funds transfers, carry heightened cybersecurity risk, including phishing and wire fraud schemes.
We recommend that clients independently verify payment instructions by telephone using a known and verified number before transferring funds.
8. Disclosure of personal information
We do not sell or trade personal information.
We may disclose personal information:
– With your consent;
– When required by law, court order, or regulatory authority;
– To financial institutions, land registries, corporate registries, or government authorities for required filings;
– To third-party service providers who assist us in delivering legal services and who are subject to confidentiality obligations; and
– To prevent fraud or comply with regulatory obligations.
We disclose only the information necessary for the specific purpose.
9. Security safeguards
We protect personal information through:
– Secure office premises;
– Locked storage for physical files, corporate minute books, and estate planning documents;
– Password-protected systems;
– Encryption where appropriate;
– Staff confidentiality training; and
– Review of third-party provider security practices.
While we use reasonable safeguards appropriate to the sensitivity of the information, no method of transmission or storage can guarantee absolute security.
10. Retention
We retain personal information only as long as necessary to:
– Provide services;
– Meet legal and regulatory obligations; and
– Comply with professional record-keeping requirements.
When no longer required, personal information is securely destroyed or deleted.
Certain documents, such as original wills or corporate records, may be retained in accordance with our professional obligations or by agreement.
11. Access and correction
You may request access to your personal information or request corrections by contacting:
Marc Ouimet-McPherson
Privacy Compliance Officer
608 Cummings Ave
Ottawa, Ontario K1K 2K6
343-888-8913
marc@ottawa.law
Access may be limited where disclosure would affect solicitor-client privilege, third-party confidentiality, or legal restrictions.
12. Updates to this policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The most current version will be posted on our website with the effective date indicated.
Continued provision of information or use of our services after updates constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.