Privacy Policy

Last Updated: 8/01/2024

First Notary (“we,” “us,” or “our”) is dedicated to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of the personal information entrusted to us by our clients, visitors, and users of our website, www.firstnotary.org (the “Site”). This Privacy Policy explains the types of personal information we collect, how we use and safeguard that information, and your rights regarding your personal data. By accessing or using our services or Site, you agree to the terms outlined in this policy.

1. Information We Collect

We collect various types of information in the course of providing our services, which may include:

A. Personal Information

    •    Identity Information: We collect personal details such as your full name, date of birth, government-issued identification numbers (e.g., driver’s license, passport), and signature. This information is necessary to perform notarizations as per legal requirements.
    •    Contact Information: Includes your physical address, email address, and phone number.
    •    Employment Information: In certain cases, we may collect information about your occupation and place of employment when it is relevant to the notarization process.

B. Transaction Information

    •    Notarial Records: We maintain a log of all notarial acts performed, which includes the type of document notarized, the date of notarization, the method used to verify identity, and any relevant signatures.
    •    Payment Information: Details related to payments made for our services, including billing address, credit/debit card information, and transaction history.

C. Website Usage Information

    •    Log Data: When you visit our Site, our servers automatically record information that your browser sends. This data may include your IP address, browser type, the pages of our Site you visit, the time spent on those pages, and other statistics.
    •    Cookies and Tracking Technologies: We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to improve your experience on our Site. Cookies are small files stored on your device that help us understand how you interact with our Site, enabling us to enhance functionality and provide personalized content.

2. How We Use Your Information

Your personal information is used for the following purposes:

A. Provision of Notary Services

    •    Identity Verification: To fulfill our legal obligations as notaries, we use your personal information to verify your identity and ensure that all notarizations are conducted lawfully.
    •    Record Keeping: We are required by law to maintain records of all notarial acts. This includes keeping copies of notarized documents, logs of transactions, and details of the identification presented.

B. Communication

    •    Service-Related Communication: We may use your contact information to send you updates about your notarial transactions, respond to your inquiries, and notify you of any changes to our services or policies.
    •    Marketing and Promotional Communication: With your consent, we may send you information about our services, special offers, and other news related to First Notary. You can opt-out of these communications at any time.

C. Legal and Regulatory Compliance

    •    Legal Obligations: We use and may disclose your information to comply with our legal obligations, including those related to record-keeping, reporting to government authorities, and responding to legal requests (e.g., subpoenas, court orders).
    •    Dispute Resolution and Enforcement: Your information may be used to resolve disputes, enforce our agreements, and protect our rights or the rights of others.

3. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We may share your personal information with third parties under the following circumstances:

A. With Your Consent

    •    Authorized Sharing: We will share your information with third parties if you explicitly authorize us to do so, such as when you request the use of a third-party service in conjunction with our notary services.

B. Service Providers

    •    Third-Party Service Providers: We may share your information with third-party service providers who assist us in operating our business, such as payment processors, cloud storage services, and IT support. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and only use it for the purposes we specify.

C. Legal Requirements

    •    Compliance with Laws: We may disclose your information if required to do so by law, including for the purpose of complying with legal processes or regulatory requirements.
    •    Protecting Rights: We may disclose your information to protect our rights, property, or safety, or the rights, property, or safety of our clients or others.

4. Data Security

We take the security of your personal information seriously and implement a variety of technical and organizational measures to protect it from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction.

A. Encryption and Storage

    •    Data Encryption: Sensitive information, such as payment details and identification numbers, is encrypted both in transit and at rest to protect it from unauthorized access.
    •    Secure Storage: We store your information in secure facilities that are protected by physical, administrative, and technical safeguards.

B. Access Controls

    •    Restricted Access: Access to personal information is restricted to authorized personnel who need it to perform their job duties. These individuals are trained on the importance of confidentiality and data protection.
    •    Authentication Measures: We employ strong authentication methods to ensure that only authorized users can access sensitive information.

C. Incident Response

    •    Breach Notification: In the event of a data breach that compromises your personal information, we will notify you and any relevant authorities in accordance with applicable laws.

5. Your Rights

You have certain rights regarding your personal information, including:

A. Access and Correction

    •    Access to Information: You have the right to request a copy of the personal information we hold about you. We will provide this information within a reasonable time frame.
    •    Correction of Information: If you believe that any of the information we hold about you is inaccurate or incomplete, you have the right to request that we correct it.

B. Data Portability and Deletion

    •    Data Portability: You may request a copy of your personal information in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.
    •    Deletion of Information: You may request that we delete your personal information, subject to legal obligations that require us to retain certain data.

C. Objection to Processing

    •    Opt-Out of Marketing: You have the right to opt-out of receiving marketing communications from us at any time by following the unsubscribe instructions provided in our emails or by contacting us directly.
    •    Restrict Processing: You may request that we restrict the processing of your personal information under certain circumstances, such as when you contest the accuracy of the data.

6. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our Site uses cookies and similar technologies to provide a better user experience, including:

A. Types of Cookies

    •    Essential Cookies: These are necessary for the functioning of our Site and cannot be turned off. They are usually set in response to your actions, such as filling out forms or setting your privacy preferences.
    •    Performance and Analytics Cookies: These cookies collect information about how you use our Site, such as which pages you visit most often. This data helps us improve our Site’s performance and user experience.
    •    Targeting Cookies: These cookies may be set through our Site by our advertising partners. They may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant ads on other sites.

B. Managing Cookies

    •    Browser Settings: You can manage cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies, but this may affect your experience on our Site.
    •    Do Not Track: Our Site does not currently respond to “Do Not Track” signals.

7. Children’s Privacy

Our services are not intended for children under the age of 18, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under the age of 18, we will take steps to delete such information.

8. International Data Transfers

If you are accessing our Site from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States, where our servers are located and our central database is operated. By using our services, you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States.

9. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. When we make changes, we will post the updated policy on our Site and update the “Last Updated” date at the top of this page. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information.

10. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or your personal information, please contact us at:

First Notary
Info@firstnotary.org

tel:+13164486606