Privacy Policy

Simplify Your Divorce Ltd provides professional McKenzie Friend support services, assisting individuals with divorce, financial remedy and family court proceedings throughout England and Wales.

For the purposes of the UK GDPR, Simplify Your Divorce Ltd is the Data Controller responsible for the personal information collected through our website and services.

3. Information We Collect

Depending on the services you use, we may collect the following information.

Personal Information

• Full name
• Postal address
• Email address
• Telephone number
• Date of birth
• National Insurance number (where relevant)
• Employment details
• Financial information
• Payment information
• Information relating to your family law matter
• Details of children where relevant
• Copies of court documents
• Identification documents
• Any correspondence you send to us

Special Category Data

Because of the nature of our services, we may process sensitive personal information including:

• Health information
• Information relating to domestic abuse
• Criminal allegation information where relevant
• Children’s personal information
• Racial or ethnic background where disclosed within court documentation

This information is processed only where necessary to provide our services or where otherwise permitted by law.

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website we may automatically collect:

• IP address
• Browser type
• Device information
• Operating system
• Website usage information
• Cookies and analytics information

4. How We Use Your Information

We use your information to:

• Respond to enquiries
• Arrange consultations
• Provide our McKenzie Friend services
• Prepare court documents
• Assist with family court proceedings
• Communicate with you regarding your matter
• Process payments
• Maintain accurate records
• Improve our website and services
• Prevent fraud
• Comply with legal and regulatory obligations

We will never sell your personal information to third parties.

5. Our Lawful Basis for Processing

Under the UK GDPR, we rely upon one or more of the following lawful bases:

Contract

Where processing is necessary to provide the services you have requested.

Consent

Where you voluntarily submit information through our website or request that we contact you.

Legitimate Interests

To operate, manage and improve our business while ensuring your rights are protected.

Legal Obligation

Where we are required to process information to comply with legal or regulatory obligations.

Special Category Data

Where we process sensitive personal information, we rely upon the relevant conditions under Article 9 UK GDPR and Schedule 1 of the Data Protection Act 2018.

6. Confidentiality

Family law matters are highly personal and often involve sensitive information.

We treat all information provided to us as strictly confidential.

Information will only be shared:

• where you have authorised us to do so;
• where necessary to provide our services;
• where required by law;
• where necessary to protect our legal rights.

7. Sharing Your Information

Where necessary, we may share your information with trusted third parties including:

• Courts and Tribunals
• HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS)
• Government agencies where legally required
• Secure cloud storage providers
• Website hosting providers
• Payment processing providers
• Online booking providers
• Professional advisers
• Barristers or solicitors where you instruct us to liaise with them

We will only share information that is necessary for the relevant purpose.

We never sell your personal information.

8. International Transfers

Where personal information is transferred outside the United Kingdom, we will ensure appropriate safeguards are in place in accordance with the UK GDPR.

9. Data Security

We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal information, including:

• Secure password-protected systems
• Encrypted cloud storage where available
• Secure email systems
• Restricted access to client files
• Secure destruction of confidential documents
• Regular software updates and security monitoring

Although we take every reasonable precaution, no method of transmitting information over the internet is completely secure.

10. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary.

Generally, client records are retained for six years following the conclusion of our services unless:

• the law requires a longer retention period;
• legal proceedings remain ongoing;
• there is another legitimate reason to retain the information.

When information is no longer required it will be securely deleted or destroyed.

11. Cookies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to improve user experience and analyse website performance.

Cookies may collect information such as:

• pages visited;
• time spent on the website;
• browser information;
• device information.

You can disable cookies through your browser settings at any time, although some website functionality may be affected.

12. Your Rights

Under the UK GDPR you have the right to:

• Access your personal information.
• Request correction of inaccurate information.
• Request deletion of your information where applicable.
• Request restriction of processing.
• Object to processing.
• Request transfer of your data where applicable.
• Withdraw consent where processing relies upon consent.

To exercise your rights please contact:

Email: support@SimplifyYourDivorce.co.uk

We will normally respond within one calendar month.

13. Third-Party Websites

Our website may contain links to third-party websites.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those websites and encourage you to read their privacy policies before providing personal information.

14. Children’s Privacy

Our services are intended for adults.

However, due to the nature of family law matters, we may process information relating to children where it is necessary to provide our services. Such information is handled with the highest level of confidentiality and only where lawful to do so.

15. Complaints

If you have any concerns about how we use your personal information, please contact us first so we have the opportunity to resolve the matter.

If you remain dissatisfied, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).

Information Commissioner’s Office

Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF

Telephone: 0303 123 1113

Website: https://ico.org.uk

16. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in legislation, our services or business operations.

The latest version will always be published on our website and the “Effective Date” at the top of this policy will indicate when it was last updated.