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Privacy Policy
How Betancourt Kotenai PLLC collects, uses, and protects information from visitors and clients.
1. Information we collect
We collect information in three ways.
Information you give us
When you use the contact form, call the office, schedule an appointment, or email us, you may provide your name, telephone number, email address, the type of matter you are asking about, the county or court involved, and whatever you choose to write in a message. If you become a client, we collect the information needed to represent you, which is governed by our engagement agreement and by the rules of professional conduct rather than by this policy.
Information collected automatically
Our website host records standard server information when you visit — your IP address, browser type, the pages you request, and the time of the request. We do not run advertising trackers, analytics pixels, or social-media plugins on this site.
Information from scheduling and telephone systems
If you book an appointment or communicate with us by telephone or text message, the scheduling and telephone providers we use process the details of that appointment or communication on our behalf.
2. How we use information
- To respond to your inquiry and, if you ask, to schedule a consultation.
- To run a conflict-of-interest check before we agree to represent anyone.
- To communicate with you about your matter, appointments, and documents.
- To operate, secure, and improve this website.
- To comply with legal, ethical, and professional obligations.
We do not use your information for advertising, and we do not sell it.
3. Text messaging (SMS)
If you provide a mobile number and agree to receive text messages, we may send you messages about appointments, scheduling, documents, and your matter. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply.
No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Information sharing to subcontractors in support services, such as customer service, is permitted. All other use-case categories exclude text messaging originator opt-in data and consent; this information will not be shared with any third parties.
You can opt out at any time by replying STOP to any message. Reply HELP for assistance, or call (509) 317-8184. See our Terms of Use for the full text-messaging terms.
4. How we share information
We share information only as needed to run the firm and serve you:
- Service providers that host our website and contact form, provide email and document storage, schedule appointments, and carry telephone and text-message service. They may use the information only to provide those services to us.
- As required by law or the rules of professional conduct, including in response to a court order or a lawful request from a regulator, and as permitted or required to protect the firm’s or a client’s rights.
- With your direction or consent, for example when you ask us to send information to a third party on your behalf.
We do not sell personal information, and we do not share it with third parties for their own marketing.
5. Cookies and third-party content
This website does not set cookies for advertising or analytics. Our website host may set a cookie that is strictly necessary to serve the site. Typefaces on this site are loaded from Google Fonts, which means your browser requests those files from Google; Google’s privacy policy governs that request. The “Get directions” link on our contact page opens Google Maps, which is subject to Google’s policies once you leave our site.
6. Retention and security
We keep website inquiries for as long as needed to respond and to maintain conflict-check records. Client files are retained in accordance with Washington rules governing lawyers and our file-retention policy. We use reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards, including encrypted connections (HTTPS) for this website. No method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. Please do not send confidential or time-sensitive information through the website form.
7. Your choices
You may ask us what information we hold about you, ask us to correct it, or ask us to delete it, subject to our legal and ethical obligations to retain certain records. You may opt out of text messages at any time by replying STOP. To make any of these requests, contact us using the information below.
8. Children
This website is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children through it. Information about minors that we receive in the course of representing a parent or guardian is handled as client information.
9. Contacting us does not make you a client
Sending a message through this website, calling the office, or scheduling a consultation does not create an attorney–client relationship. That relationship begins only after we have completed a conflict check and you have consulted with a licensed attorney directly, rendered payment, and both you and the attorney have signed the engagement letter. Non-attorneys cannot and do not give legal advice. To that end, until you speak directly with an attorney, limit all information provided to what is needed to schedule a consultation, which will include your name, date of birth, the opposing party’s name and date of birth (if applicable), your physical address, your contact information (phone and email), the type of legal services that you seek, and a high-level overview of the facts.
10. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. The effective date at the top of the page will change when we do. Continued use of the website after a change means you accept the updated policy.
11. Contact
Betancourt Kotenai PLLC
2411 N. Steptoe St.
Richland, WA 99352
(509) 317-8184
Contact page