Privacy Policy

Information We Collect

---

When you use the contact form on this website, we collect the following information: your name, phone number, email address, county, and the message you provide describing your situation. We also collect your IP address and the date and time of your submission for security purposes. This website does not offer user accounts, and we do not collect payments through it — no credit card or bank information is requested or processed anywhere on this site.

How We Use Your Information

---

The information you provide is used solely to respond to your consultation request and to evaluate whether we can assist you. We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes. Your information may be shared with staff members of Scharf Law, P.C. who are involved in evaluating and responding to your inquiry. Form submissions are delivered to our office by email; they are not stored in a database on this website.

Confidentiality Notice

---

Submitting a contact form does not create an attorney-client relationship. While we treat all inquiries as confidential, attorney-client privilege does not attach until a formal engagement agreement is signed. Please do not include highly sensitive details in your initial contact. We will establish a secure communication channel once a formal relationship is in place.

Cookies & Similar Technologies

---

This site asks before setting any optional cookie. On your first visit, a banner offers a simple choice: Accept or Decline. Analytics runs only if you choose Accept — if you decline, or simply ignore the banner, no analytics loads and the site works exactly the same. You can change your choice at any time using the Cookie Preferences link in the footer of every page.

The cookies this site can set, by name:

• scharf_consent — remembers your Accept/Decline choice so we do not ask again. First-party and strictly functional; expires after 180 days.
• _ga and _ga_HP13TRRYVH — Google Analytics cookies, set only if you accept. They distinguish visitors so we can see which pages help people most (pages visited, browser type, time on site). Google states these persist for up to two years. If you decline after previously accepting, we delete the copies of these cookies we can reach.

This site also uses your browser’s session storage (cleared when you close the tab) for two strictly functional items: a WordPress emoji-support check (wpEmojiSettingsSupports) and a once-per-session flag for the exit message (scharf_exit_popup_shown). Neither identifies you.

Global Privacy Control & Do Not Track: if your browser sends the Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal, we treat it as a Decline automatically and the banner never appears. Older “Do Not Track” browser signals have no settled technical meaning, and we do not respond to them — but because analytics is off unless you accept, nothing tracks you by default either way. You can additionally opt out of Google Analytics in any browser with Google’s opt-out add-on at tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.

Third-Party Services

---

We keep third parties to a minimum. The services below process limited technical data (such as your IP address and browser type) when the site loads them:

• Google Analytics (Google LLC) — visitor statistics; loads only if you accept the cookie banner.
• Google Fonts (Google LLC) — serves the typefaces this site uses; your browser requests font files from Google’s servers.
• Google Maps (Google LLC) — the map of our office on the Contact page is an embedded Google map; it loads when it scrolls into view and is governed by Google’s own privacy policy.
• Website hosting — like every website, our hosting provider processes routine server logs (IP address, pages requested) to run and secure the site.

We do not use advertising pixels, social-media trackers, or third-party chat services. The chat helper on this site runs entirely in your browser and sends nothing to any server.

Data Retention

---

We keep consultation inquiries and related correspondence only as long as reasonably necessary to respond, to evaluate representation, and to meet our professional and legal obligations. Analytics data, when you have accepted it, is retained by Google Analytics under the retention settings of our account.

Data Security

---

We implement reasonable security measures to protect your personal information from unauthorized access, alteration, or disclosure. However, no method of electronic transmission or storage is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Your California Privacy Rights

---

Under the California Consumer Privacy Act and the California Privacy Rights Act (CCPA/CPRA), California residents may: know what personal information we collect and how we use it (this policy is that disclosure); request a copy of the personal information we hold; correct inaccurate personal information; and delete personal information, subject to legal exceptions (for example, records we must keep to meet professional-responsibility obligations). We do not sell personal information, and we do not share it with third parties for cross-context behavioral advertising.

To exercise any of these rights, email Staff@ScharfLawPC.com or call (916) 782-3900. To protect you, we verify your identity before acting on a request — typically by matching the name, email address, and phone number you used when contacting us; we may ask for additional confirmation where a request is sensitive. You may submit a request through an authorized agent. We will never discriminate against you — for example by denying services or charging different rates — for exercising your privacy rights.

Changes to This Policy

---

We may update this privacy policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date.

Effective Date: January 1, 2026
Last Updated: September 8, 2026