Privacy Policy
Effective Date: July 21, 2025
At Absolute Documents ("we," "our," or "us"), your privacy is important to us. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal information when you use our paralegal waiver and pardon services, website, or communicate with us. This policy complies with Alberta's Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA) and the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) where applicable.

1. Privacy Officer and Accountability
We are committed to protecting your privacy and have designated a Privacy Officer responsible for our compliance with Alberta's Personal Information Protection
Act (PIPA) and other applicable privacy laws. Our Privacy Officer can be contacted at privacy@absolutedocuments.ca.

2. Information We Collect
We collect personal information necessary to provide our paralegal services, including but not limited to:
Personal Identifiers
Full legal name and any previous names or aliases
Contact information (email address, phone number, mailing address)
Date of birth and place of birth
Government-issued identification numbers (Social Insurance Number, driver's license, passport numbers)
Legal and Court Information
Details of criminal charges, convictions, or legal proceedings
Court file numbers and case details
Probation or parole information
Police records and background check results
Financial Information
Payment and billing information
Banking details for billing purposes only
Application-Specific Information
Documentation related to pardons, waivers, or other legal processes
Supporting documents such as employment records, character references
Travel history and immigration status (where relevant)
We collect this information directly from you, your authorized representatives, or from official sources such as courts and government agencies as required to process your application.

3. Legal Basis and Purposes for Collection
We collect and use your personal information for the following specific purposes:
Primary Purposes
Preparing and processing pardon and waiver applications
Obtaining necessary records and documents from courthouses, police services, and government agencies
Communicating with you about your case status and our services
Managing payments, billing, and financial transactions
Complying with legal and regulatory requirements under federal and provincial laws
Secondary Purposes (with your consent)
Improving our services and developing new service offerings
Sending periodic updates about changes in relevant laws or procedures
Website analytics and user experience improvements

4. Consent
Express Consent
By engaging our services, you provide express consent for us to:
Collect the personal information described in Section 2
Use your information for the purposes outlined in Section 3
Disclose your information as described in Section 5
Store and process your information using third-party service providers
Implied Consent
In some circumstances, your consent may be implied by your actions, such as when you voluntarily provide information during our consultation process.
Withdrawing Consent
You may withdraw your consent at any time by contacting our Privacy Officer. However, please note that:
Withdrawal may limit our ability to provide certain services
We may need to retain some information to fulfill legal obligations

5. Third-Party Service Providers
To provide efficient and secure services, we use trusted third-party service providers, including:
Document Management and Electronic Signatures
PandaDoc for secure document signing and management
Cloud storage providers for secure file storage and backup
Payment Processing
Secure payment processors for credit card and online transactions
Government and Legal Services
Court registry services for document filing
Authorized agencies for background checks and record retrieval
Please note that our third-party service providers are not limited to those listed above and may change from time to time as we adapt our services to better serve our clients.
By using our services, you acknowledge and consent to:
Your personal information being processed, stored, or transmitted by these third parties according to their privacy policies and terms of service
Compliance with the terms and conditions of these third-party providers
Our recommendation that you review these third-party policies directly on their websites

6. Disclosure of Your Information
We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may disclose your information only in the following circumstances:
Required by Law
Courts, government agencies, and legal authorities as required by law
Law enforcement agencies when legally compelled
Regulatory bodies overseeing paralegal services
Service Delivery
Government agencies responsible for processing pardon and waiver applications
Courts and registry offices for document filing and record retrieval
Trusted third-party service providers assisting with your application process
Professional Services
Our professional advisors, including lawyers, accountants, and consultants, when necessary for service delivery
External legal counsel when required for complex cases
With Your Consent
Any other disclosure will only occur with your explicit written consent
Cross-Border Disclosures
Some of your information may be processed or stored outside of Canada, particularly when dealing with applications involving U.S. or international authorities. In such cases, your information will be subject to the laws of those jurisdictions, and we will take reasonable steps to ensure appropriate protection.

7. Security Safeguards
We implement comprehensive physical, technical, and administrative safeguards to protect your personal information:
Technical Safeguards
Encryption of data in transit and at rest
Secure servers with regular security updates
Multi-factor authentication for staff access
Regular security assessments and vulnerability testing
Physical Safeguards
Locked filing cabinets for physical documents
Restricted access to offices and storage areas
Secure disposal of documents through certified destruction services
Administrative Safeguards
Staff training on privacy and security protocols
Background checks for all employees with access to personal information
Confidentiality agreements with all staff and contractors
Regular review and updating of security policies
Incident Response
In the event of a privacy breach, we will:
Immediately contain the breach and assess the risk of significant harm to individuals
Notify the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta (OIPC) without unreasonable delay where "a reasonable person would consider that there exists a real risk of significant harm to an individual as a result of the loss or unauthorized access or disclosure"
Notify affected individuals directly if there is a real risk of significant harm
Document all incidents and implement corrective measures to prevent recurrence
Maintain detailed breach records as required under Alberta's PIPA

8. Retention and Disposal
Active Files
We retain your personal information only as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected:
Active case files: Duration of service plus any required follow-up period
Financial records: Minimum seven years as required by tax legislation
Communications: Six years from last contact
Completed Cases
Upon successful completion of your application:
You may provide written consent to retain your information for potential future services at discounted rates
If consent is not provided, files will be securely destroyed within 60 days of case completion
Some information may be retained in anonymized form for service improvement purposes
Discontinued Services
For clients who discontinue services or become unresponsive:
Files will be securely destroyed one year from the last contact
You may request earlier destruction by contacting our Privacy Officer
We will make reasonable efforts to notify you before destruction
Secure Disposal
All disposal of personal information follows secure protocols:
Physical documents are shredded or destroyed by certified services
Electronic files are securely wiped using industry-standard methods
Third-party disposal services provide certificates of destruction

9. Your Privacy Rights
Under Canadian privacy law, you have the following rights:
Access Rights
Request access to your personal information in our possession
Receive information about how your data is being used
Obtain copies of your information in an accessible format
Correction Rights
Request corrections to inaccurate or incomplete information
Request updates to outdated information
Challenge the accuracy of information we hold
Withdrawal and Deletion Rights
Withdraw consent for processing (subject to legal obligations)
Request deletion of your information where legally permissible
Opt out of secondary uses such as marketing communications
Complaint Rights
File complaints about our privacy practices with our Privacy Officer
Escalate unresolved complaints to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta (OIPC)
Contact the Privacy Commissioner of Canada for matters involving federal jurisdiction
Seek recourse through applicable courts if necessary
Exercising Your Rights
To exercise any of these rights:
Contact our Privacy Officer at privacy@absolutedocuments.ca
Provide sufficient information to verify your identity
Specify the nature of your request clearly
We will respond within 30 days of receiving your complete request
There is no fee for most requests, though we may charge reasonable costs for extensive or repetitive requests

10. Website Privacy and Cookies
Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to:
Remember your preferences and settings
Analyze website traffic and user behavior
Improve website functionality and user experience
You can control cookie settings through your browser preferences. Some website functionality may be limited if you disable cookies.
We do not use automated decision-making systems that would significantly impact your legal rights or interests.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or applicable laws. When we make material changes:
We will post the updated policy on our website at www.absolutedocuments.ca
We will update the "Effective Date" at the top of this policy
For significant changes, we may notify you directly via email
Continued use of our services after changes indicates acceptance of the updated policy
We encourage you to review this policy regularly to stay informed about how we protect your privacy.

12. Contact Information
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our handling of your personal information, please contact us:
Absolute Documents Privacy Officer Email: privacy@absolutedocuments.ca Website: www.absolutedocuments.ca Phone: 1-800-XXX-XXXX
Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Mountain Time)
For complaints that cannot be resolved directly with us, you may contact:
Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Alberta (OIPC):
Phone: 1-888-878-4044
Website: www.oipc.ab.ca
Email: generalinfo@oipc.ab.ca
Privacy Commissioner of Canada (for federal jurisdiction matters):
Phone: 1-800-282-1376
Website: www.priv.gc.ca


This Privacy Policy was last updated on July 21, 2025, and reflects our commitment to protecting your personal information in accordance with Canadian privacy laws and professional standards for paralegal services.