1. Scope of this Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy applies to information collected through INA245.com and communications initiated through this website.
It does not necessarily govern information collected in the course of an established attorney-client relationship. Information relating to existing clients may be subject to separate professional, contractual, ethical, confidentiality, record-retention, and legal obligations.
2. Information you voluntarily provide
We may collect information that you choose to provide when you:
- Submit a website contact form;
- Request a consultation;
- Send an email or other communication;
- Provide documents or information for possible legal review;
- Communicate with the firm regarding legal services; or
- Otherwise interact with the website.
Depending on what you submit, this information may include:
- Name;
- Email address;
- Telephone number;
- Immigration status or immigration history;
- Case type;
- Government filing or decision dates;
- Information about family members, employers, or petitioners;
- Information contained in documents you provide; and
- Any other information included in your message.
3. Information collected automatically
Like most websites, INA245.com may automatically receive limited technical information when you visit the site.
Depending on the website configuration and services in use, this information may include:
- Internet Protocol address;
- Browser type and version;
- Device type;
- Operating system;
- Date and time of access;
- Pages requested;
- Referring website or source;
- Approximate geographic information derived from an IP address;
- Website error and performance information; and
- Security-related event information.
This information may be generated through ordinary web-server logs, hosting infrastructure, security services, cookies, or similar technologies.
4. How we use information
Information collected through the website may be used to:
- Respond to inquiries;
- Evaluate requests for consultations or legal services;
- Communicate with prospective, current, or former clients where appropriate;
- Schedule consultations;
- Determine whether the firm may be able to assist with a matter;
- Operate and maintain the website;
- Protect the website from spam, abuse, unauthorized access, or malicious activity;
- Troubleshoot technical problems;
- Improve website content, functionality, and user experience;
- Comply with legal, regulatory, ethical, or professional obligations;
- Establish, exercise, or defend legal rights; and
- Perform other functions reasonably related to the purpose for which the information was provided.
5. When information may be disclosed
We do not disclose personal information indiscriminately. Information may be disclosed when reasonably necessary for website operations, communications, legal services, security, or compliance purposes.
Service providers
We may use third-party service providers to perform functions such as:
- Website hosting;
- Website security and firewall protection;
- Contact-form processing;
- Email transmission or delivery;
- Spam prevention;
- Data backup;
- Website maintenance;
- Analytics or performance measurement; and
- Other technology services.
These providers may process information as necessary to provide their services.
Legal and professional obligations
Information may also be disclosed when reasonably necessary to:
- Comply with applicable law, court process, or lawful governmental requests;
- Protect the rights, safety, or security of the firm, website users, or others;
- Investigate fraud, abuse, or security incidents;
- Enforce applicable agreements or policies; or
- Comply with professional or ethical obligations.
6. Cookies and similar technologies
INA245.com may use cookies or similar technologies that allow the website or its service providers to recognize a browser, maintain website functionality, protect against malicious activity, remember certain preferences, or evaluate website performance.
Cookies may include:
| Type | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Necessary cookies | Support basic website functionality, security, form processing, and other essential operations. |
| Preference cookies | Remember choices or website settings where such features are enabled. |
| Performance or analytics technologies | May help evaluate website traffic, performance, navigation, and use if analytics services are enabled. |
Most browsers allow users to control or delete cookies through browser settings. Disabling necessary cookies may affect website functionality.
7. Information security
We use reasonable administrative and technical measures intended to protect website information against unauthorized access, misuse, alteration, loss, or disclosure.
These measures may include encrypted website connections, access controls, software updates, security monitoring, firewall protections, malware detection, backup systems, and other security practices.
8. Information retention
We may retain information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected and for legitimate legal, professional, operational, security, and recordkeeping purposes.
Retention periods may vary depending on:
- The nature of the information;
- Whether the person becomes a client;
- Professional-responsibility requirements;
- Potential conflict-checking needs;
- Legal or regulatory obligations;
- Security considerations; and
- The reason the information was originally collected.
9. Legal inquiries, confidentiality, and attorney-client relationships
Sending information through INA245.com does not by itself establish an attorney-client relationship with The Messersmith Law Firm, P.A.
An attorney-client relationship begins only after the firm agrees to undertake the representation and any applicable engagement requirements are completed.
Once an attorney-client relationship exists, information relating to that representation may be subject to professional confidentiality obligations in addition to this website Privacy Policy.
10. Your privacy choices and rights
Depending on your location and the law applicable to a particular request, you may have rights concerning personal information maintained about you.
Those rights may include the ability to request:
- Information about categories of personal information collected;
- Access to certain personal information;
- Correction of inaccurate information;
- Deletion of certain information;
- Information concerning certain disclosures; or
- Other rights provided by applicable privacy law.
These rights are subject to applicable exceptions, including obligations relating to legal services, professional responsibility, conflict records, legal claims, security, and record retention.
Privacy-related requests may be submitted through our Contact page.
11. Children's privacy
INA245.com is a legal-information website intended for adults and is not directed to children under 13.
We do not knowingly operate this website for the purpose of collecting personal information directly from children under 13.
Immigration inquiries sometimes necessarily involve information about minor children supplied by a parent, guardian, family member, petitioner, or other adult. Such information may be processed as part of evaluating or providing immigration legal services.
12. Links to third-party websites
INA245.com contains links to government agencies, legal authorities, courts, and other external websites.
Examples may include:
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services;
- U.S. Department of State;
- Executive Office for Immigration Review;
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations;
- Federal statutes and court resources; and
- Other legal-information sources.
We do not control the privacy practices, content, security, or terms of unrelated third-party websites. Users should review the privacy policies of those sites separately.
13. Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may revise this Privacy Policy to reflect changes in website operations, technology, service providers, legal requirements, or privacy practices.
When the policy is materially updated, the effective date displayed near the top of this page may be revised.
Continued use of the website after an updated policy is posted is subject to the version of the Privacy Policy then displayed on the website.
14. Privacy questions
Questions regarding this Privacy Policy or the handling of information submitted through INA245.com may be directed to The Messersmith Law Firm, P.A.
Please use the website's Contact page and identify your inquiry as a privacy-related request.