Effective Date: February 12, 2026
Family Estate Guide (“we,” “us,” or “our”) operates the website familyestateguide.com. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your choices regarding that information.
We take your privacy seriously — especially on a site that deals with sensitive family and financial topics. We collect as little information as possible and never sell your personal data.
Information We Collect
Information you provide directly
- Contact form submissions. If you use our contact page, we collect the name, email address, and message you provide. We use this only to respond to your inquiry.
- Email correspondence. If you email us directly at randy@familyestateguide.com, we retain that correspondence to respond to you and improve our content.
Information collected automatically
- Server logs. Like most websites, our hosting server automatically records your IP address, browser type, referring URL, pages visited, and the date and time of your visit. This data is used for security monitoring and basic traffic analysis.
- Cookies. We use a limited number of cookies to operate the site (see “Cookies” section below).
Information we do NOT collect
- We do not collect financial information, Social Security numbers, or any legal documents.
- We do not require account creation or login.
- We do not run any e-commerce or process payments.
Cookies
Cookies are small text files stored on your device by your browser. We use the following types:
| Cookie Type | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Essential / Functional | WordPress session management; required for the site to function properly | Session or up to 1 year |
| Performance / Caching | WP Fastest Cache uses cookies to serve cached pages faster and identify logged-in users | Session |
| Interactive Tools | Our estate planning readiness checklist uses localStorage (not cookies) to save your progress so you can return later | Persistent until cleared |
We do not use advertising cookies or tracking pixels. If we add analytics in the future (such as Google Analytics), this policy will be updated before implementation.
Managing cookies
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to block or delete cookies. Note that disabling cookies may affect site functionality.
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to:
- Respond to your questions and messages
- Improve our content and user experience
- Monitor site security and prevent abuse
- Understand general traffic patterns (not individual tracking)
We do not use your information to:
- Send unsolicited marketing emails
- Sell or rent your data to third parties
- Build advertising profiles
- Make automated decisions about you
Third-Party Services
Our site uses a limited number of third-party services:
- WordPress.org — Our content management platform (self-hosted)
- Akismet — Spam filtering for contact form submissions. Akismet may process your IP address, user agent, referrer, and form content to detect spam. See Automattic’s Privacy Policy.
- Web hosting provider — Our hosting provider processes server logs as described above
If we add attorney referral services or other third-party partnerships in the future, this policy will be updated to reflect any additional data sharing, and those relationships will be clearly disclosed on the relevant pages.
Data Retention
- Contact form messages: Retained for up to 2 years, then deleted
- Server logs: Retained per our hosting provider’s standard retention period (typically 30-90 days)
- Email correspondence: Retained as long as needed to address your inquiry, then archived or deleted
Your Rights
You have the right to:
- Request access to any personal information we hold about you
- Request deletion of your personal information
- Request correction of inaccurate information
- Opt out of any future communications
To exercise any of these rights, email us at randy@familyestateguide.com. We will respond within 30 days.
Children’s Privacy
This site is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has submitted personal information through our contact form, please email us and we will delete it promptly.
California Residents (CCPA)
If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA). We do not sell personal information. You may request disclosure of what personal information we have collected by contacting us at the email address below.
Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated effective date. We encourage you to review this page periodically.
Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your information:
- Email: randy@familyestateguide.com
- Website: familyestateguide.com/contact