Privacy Policy

Protecting Your Personal Information

Last Updated: October 22, 2026

The Burton Firm, LLC respects your privacy and takes the protection of your personal information seriously. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, when we may share it and the steps we take to protect it.

This policy applies to information collected through thelegalcounsel.com, our online contact forms and communications with our office. It also explains your choices concerning cookies, text messages and requests involving your personal information.

Our office serves individuals and families in Maryland and Virginia. Whether you are requesting information about our legal services or communicating about an existing matter, we handle your information according to this policy and applicable legal and professional obligations.

Personal Information We Collect

We collect personal information when you voluntarily contact The Burton Firm, request a consultation, complete a website form or communicate with our office.

Depending on your interaction with us, the information may include:

  • Contact Information: Your name, email address, telephone number and mailing address.
  • Location Information: Your city, county or state of residence when relevant to your inquiry.
  • Legal Matter Information: Details you provide about divorce, child custody, child support, guardianship, adoption or another legal concern.
  • Communication Records: Emails, text messages, telephone inquiries and correspondence with our office.
  • Appointment Information: Consultation requests, meeting dates and scheduling preferences.
  • Client Information: Documents, billing records and other information required to provide legal services when an attorney-client relationship exists.

You may choose how much information to include in an initial inquiry. However, we recommend limiting website submissions to the basic details needed for our office to understand your request.

Please do not submit Social Security numbers, financial account numbers or confidential legal documents through a general website form unless our office specifically requests them through an approved communication method.

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, certain technical information may be collected automatically through your browser, website hosting services or authorized analytics tools.

This information may include:

  • Your IP address and general geographic location
  • Browser type, operating system and device information
  • Pages visited and time spent on the website
  • Links clicked and website features used
  • Referral websites and search traffic sources
  • Dates and times associated with website visits
  • Cookie identifiers and related technical information

We may use this information to maintain website functionality, identify technical problems, improve security and understand how visitors use our website.

Some of this information may qualify as personal information under applicable privacy laws, particularly when it can be linked to an identifiable individual or device.

How We Use Your Personal Information

The Burton Firm uses personal information to respond to inquiries, communicate with clients and support the operation of our legal practice.

Depending on the information collected and your relationship with our office, we may use it to:

  • Respond to questions about our legal services
  • Schedule consultations and confirm appointments
  • Communicate about existing or potential legal matters
  • Review information submitted during the intake process
  • Prepare documents and perform authorized legal services
  • Maintain client records and billing information
  • Send administrative notices and authorized communications
  • Improve website functionality and visitor experience
  • Protect our website against spam, fraud and unauthorized activity
  • Meet applicable legal, regulatory and professional obligations

We use personal information for the purposes connected to its collection and other purposes permitted by law. If a new use requires additional consent, we will request that consent before proceeding.

Information Received From Other Sources

We may receive information about you from other individuals or organizations when it relates to an inquiry or legal matter. These sources may include authorized representatives, referral contacts or people involved in a legal proceeding.

For existing clients, we may also receive information from courts, opposing parties, opposing counsel or other sources involved in the legal process.

We handle such information according to applicable law, professional responsibilities and the circumstances under which it was received.

Cookies and Website Analytics

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to support essential functions, maintain security and evaluate website performance.

Cookies are small files stored on your device when you visit a website. Some cookies help pages function properly, while others may collect information about website traffic or visitor interactions.

Depending on the services enabled on our website, we may use cookies for:

  • Essential website operations and security
  • Contact form functionality and spam prevention
  • Website traffic analysis and performance reporting
  • Remembering visitor preferences
  • Advertising measurement when applicable

Our website may use services such as Google Analytics to understand how visitors interact with our content. These services may collect device information, page activity and other technical identifiers based on their configuration.

Certain advertising and analytics technologies may transmit website activity or device information to outside providers. Depending on the information involved and applicable privacy laws, some transfers may qualify as selling or sharing personal information for targeted advertising, even when no money is exchanged.

Where available, you can use our website’s cookie preference controls to manage optional cookies. You may also use the “Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information” option provided on our website to manage applicable advertising data preferences.

Most browsers also allow you to delete stored cookies, limit third-party cookies or block certain tracking technologies.

Disabling essential cookies may affect contact forms or other website functions.

Text Messaging and SMS Communications

The Burton Firm may communicate by text message with individuals who have provided their mobile phone numbers and agreed to receive SMS communications.

Depending on your consent and relationship with our office, text messages may include consultation responses, appointment reminders, scheduling updates and administrative communications.

We may collect and maintain the following information to administer authorized text messaging:

  • Mobile telephone numbers
  • Records of SMS consent and communication preferences
  • Text message content and delivery information
  • Requests to stop receiving messages
  • Dates and times associated with SMS communications

No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Text messaging opt-in data and consent will not be shared with any third parties, except service providers that deliver our messages.

These service providers may process the information necessary to deliver authorized messages and maintain the messaging service. They are not authorized to use text messaging consent information for their own marketing purposes.

Consent to receive text messages is voluntary and is not required to obtain legal services. You may withdraw your consent by replying STOP to a message from our SMS program or contacting our office directly.

For assistance with our messaging service, reply HELP or call (301) 901-5549.

Message and data rates may apply based on your wireless carrier and service plan. Message frequency varies according to your communication needs and the type of messages authorized.

When We Share Personal Information

The Burton Firm does not sell client case files or information submitted during legal consultations to data brokers. We may share personal information when necessary to provide authorized services, operate our website or meet legal obligations.

Depending on the circumstances, information may be shared with:

  • Website Service Providers: Companies that assist with website hosting, maintenance, security and technical operations.
  • Communication Providers: Services that support authorized email delivery, appointment scheduling or text messaging.
  • Technology Providers: Companies that assist with document management, electronic signatures, billing or other administrative functions.
  • Analytics and Advertising Providers: Services that process website traffic, technical identifiers or advertising measurements when enabled.
  • Legal and Professional Service Providers: Individuals or organizations assisting with authorized legal work under appropriate confidentiality obligations.
  • Courts and Government Authorities: Entities that may require information through lawful proceedings, court orders or other legal obligations.

We may also disclose information when you authorize the disclosure or when it is reasonably necessary to protect legal rights, investigate suspected misconduct or comply with applicable law.

Any disclosure involving confidential client information remains subject to applicable attorney-client privilege, professional conduct rules and other legal protections.

Text messaging opt-in information and consent records are handled according to the restrictions described in the SMS section above.

Attorney-Client Confidentiality

We understand that family law matters often involve sensitive personal and financial information. Divorce, child custody, support disputes and adoption proceedings may require individuals to discuss private family circumstances.

The Burton Firm handles information received during legal representation according to applicable professional duties and confidentiality requirements.

However, contacting our office through this website does not automatically establish an attorney-client relationship. Representation begins when our firm agrees to provide legal services under an appropriate engagement arrangement.

Communications from prospective clients may still be subject to confidentiality obligations under applicable professional rules. However, website contact forms and ordinary email may not provide the security needed for highly sensitive documents.

Please avoid submitting confidential information until our office provides instructions for doing so.

For additional information about website communications and the limits of online legal information, review our Terms of Use.

How We Protect Personal Information

We use reasonable administrative and technical safeguards intended to protect personal information against unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration and misuse.

These safeguards may include access controls, account security measures, website maintenance and procedures for handling confidential information.

Access to information is limited according to operational needs, authorized responsibilities and applicable confidentiality requirements.

No method of internet transmission or electronic storage is completely secure. Although we take reasonable precautions, we cannot guarantee that every transmission or storage system will remain free from security risks.

If you believe information you submitted to our office has been accessed or disclosed without authorization, please contact us using the information provided below.

How Long We Retain Personal Information

We retain personal information for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purpose for which it was collected and meet applicable legal or professional obligations.

Retention periods may vary based on the type of information and the circumstances of its collection.

For example, information submitted through an initial consultation request may be retained for a different period than records associated with an active or closed legal matter.

Factors affecting retention include:

  • The purpose for which information was collected
  • Whether a legal matter remains active
  • Applicable attorney recordkeeping obligations
  • Billing, accounting and tax requirements
  • Potential disputes or legal claims
  • Requirements imposed by courts or government authorities

When information is no longer needed and no applicable obligation requires retention, we may delete, destroy or de-identify it using appropriate procedures.

Your Privacy Rights and Choices

Depending on your state of residence and the privacy laws that apply to our processing activities, you may have certain rights concerning your personal information.

Maryland’s Online Data Privacy Act and Virginia’s Consumer Data Protection Act establish privacy rights and obligations for businesses that meet their respective applicability requirements. These laws do not automatically apply to every business or every category of information.

Where applicable law provides these rights, they may include the ability to:

  • Request information about the personal data we collect or maintain
  • Request access to certain personal information
  • Ask us to correct inaccurate information
  • Request deletion of eligible personal information
  • Request a copy of certain information in a usable format
  • Opt out of certain data sales, targeted advertising or profiling activities
  • Withdraw consent where processing depends on that consent

These rights are subject to legal exceptions and requirements. Certain information may need to be retained for legal representation, professional obligations, recordkeeping or other permitted purposes.

We will review privacy requests according to the laws applicable to our firm and the information involved.

How to Submit a Privacy Request

If you have questions about your personal information or wish to exercise a privacy right available under applicable law, you may contact our office.

To submit a request, email hello@thelegalcounsel.com or call (301) 901-5549.

Please describe the information or privacy concern involved. We may request reasonable details to verify your identity before releasing, correcting or deleting personal information.

We will review requests and respond according to applicable law. If a request is denied, we will explain the reason when required and provide information about any applicable appeal process.

Communication Preferences

You may contact our office to update your contact information or change your communication preferences.

For text messaging preferences, please follow the opt-out instructions in the SMS section above. You may also contact our office to request changes to optional communications.

Requests to stop optional communications do not prevent us from sending information necessary for an existing legal relationship or otherwise permitted by law.

Some communications may still be required to address legal deadlines, billing matters or other obligations associated with ongoing representation.

Information Concerning Children

Our website is intended for adults seeking information about legal services. We do not direct our website to children under the age of 13.

Because our practice includes child custody, child support, guardianship and adoption matters, parents or legal representatives may provide information concerning minors when seeking legal assistance.

We use information about children for appropriate purposes connected to the inquiry, authorized legal services or other activities permitted by law.

If you believe a child has submitted personal information directly through our website without appropriate authorization, please contact our office so we can review the situation.

Third-Party Websites and Services

Our website may contain links to outside websites, payment processors or services operated by other organizations.

For example, payment links may direct clients to a third-party payment service. That provider may collect billing and payment information according to its own privacy policy and security procedures.

We may receive transaction records needed for billing, accounting or client account administration.

External websites may also use their own cookies, tracking tools and information collection practices.

The Burton Firm does not control the privacy policies or data handling practices of independently operated third-party websites. We encourage you to review their policies before providing personal or financial information.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy when our website features, information practices, service providers or applicable legal requirements change.

When we revise the policy, we will publish the updated version on this website and change the revision date shown at the beginning of the document.

Where applicable law requires additional notice or consent for a particular change, we will follow those requirements.

We encourage visitors to review this policy periodically to understand how their information is handled.

Contact The Burton Firm

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to update your information or want to submit a privacy-related request, you may contact The Burton Firm directly.

The Burton Firm, LLC
14626 Main Street, Suite 202
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772

Phone: (301) 901-5549
Fax: (888) 778-0475
Website: thelegalcounsel.com

Mailing Address:
The Burton Firm, LLC
P.O. Box 27
Upper Marlboro, MD 20773

Please send postal correspondence to our mailing address above.

For general inquiries, visit our Contact Us page. You may also review our Terms of Use for information about website access and communications.