Privacy Policy

How Sweeney Bankruptcy Lawyers collects, uses and protects information from visitors to this website.

Effective 10.06.2026

Last updated 10.06.2026

Introduction

This Privacy Policy explains how Sweeney Law Offices PLLC, doing business as Sweeney Bankruptcy Lawyers (“Sweeney Bankruptcy Lawyers,” “the Firm,” “we,” “us” or “our”), collects, uses, shares and protects information about visitors to sweeneybankruptcylawyers.com (the “Site”).

We are a consumer bankruptcy practice with offices in Southfield, Ann Arbor, Jackson, St. Clair Shores and Brighton, Michigan. People who contact us are often dealing with debt, garnishments or foreclosure, and we treat what they share with care. If you have questions about anything in this policy, contact us using the details in Section 20.

By using the Site, you agree to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Site.

Important notice: no attorney-client relationship

Reading this Site, submitting a form, calling, texting or emailing us does not create an attorney-client relationship. That relationship is formed only when you and the Firm sign a written engagement agreement.

Please do not send Social Security numbers, bank or credit card account numbers, tax returns, pay stubs or other financial documents through the Site’s forms, by unencrypted email or by text message. Information sent before an attorney-client relationship exists may not be protected by attorney-client privilege. Once you retain us, we will give you a secure way to provide the documents your case requires.

Nothing on this Site is legal advice. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in your case.

Scope of this policy

This policy applies to information collected through the Site and through the phone, text, email and form channels connected to it. It does not apply to:

Information governed by the attorney-client relationship, our engagement agreements and the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct. Where those rules or an engagement agreement impose stricter confidentiality obligations, they control.
Information you provide to a bankruptcy court, trustee or the U.S. Trustee Program as part of a filed case. Bankruptcy filings are generally public records.
Third-party websites, social media pages, directories and review platforms that link to or from the Site. Those services have their own privacy policies.
Information collected offline in ways unrelated to the Site.

Information we collect

4.1 Information you provide directly

Our consultation form asks for four things: your name, phone number, email address, and what you need help with (for example, Chapter 7, Chapter 13, foreclosure or a garnishment). Our callback form asks only for your name and phone number.

We do not request a Social Security number, date of birth, account numbers or any document upload through the Site. If you call, text or email us, we receive your phone number or email address and whatever you choose to tell us.

4.2 Information collected automatically

When you visit the Site, certain information is collected through cookies, pixels, tags and similar technologies:

Device and technical data: IP address, browser type and version, operating system, device type, screen size and language settings.
Usage data: pages viewed, time on page, scroll depth, clicks, referring URL and the search or ad that brought you to the Site.
Approximate location: a general city or region derived from your IP address, not precise GPS location.
Advertising identifiers: cookie IDs and click IDs, such as the Google Click Identifier (GCLID), used to connect a visit to an ad.

4.3 Call tracking

We may use a third-party call tracking service to understand which marketing channels lead people to call us. Phone numbers shown on the Site may be tracking numbers that forward to our office. Through this service we may collect the caller’s number and general location, the date, time and length of the call, the marketing source or page associated with it, and any voicemail or text message sent to a tracking number.

Call recording is off by default. If recording is ever enabled on a line, callers will hear a notice at the start of the call and can choose to end the call.

4.4 Heatmaps and session analytics

We may use Microsoft Clarity to produce heatmaps and usage analytics that help us improve the Site. Clarity records pseudonymous interaction data such as clicks, scrolling and page transitions. Text typed into form fields is masked and is not captured. Microsoft handles this data under the Microsoft Privacy Statement.

4.5 Information from third parties

Advertising and analytics platforms, in aggregated or pseudonymous form.
Legal directories, review platforms and referring attorneys, if you reached us through them.
Public records, such as court dockets or property records, when we evaluate or handle a matter.
Service providers that support our website, intake, scheduling and communications.

4.6 Sensitive information

The fact that you are considering bankruptcy, and details about your debts, income or a pending foreclosure, are sensitive. We do not sell this information, we do not use it to build advertising profiles, and we do not send the content of your inquiry to any advertising platform.

Cookies, tags and similar technologies

We manage tags and cookies through Google Tag Manager, which controls when other technologies load. The table below shows the categories we use.

Category	Purpose	Examples	Loads before consent?
Strictly necessary	Security, form submission, spam protection, remembering your cookie choice	Hosting and security cookies, consent cookie	Yes. Required for the Site to work.
Analytics	Measuring traffic and improving pages	Google Analytics 4, Microsoft Clarity	No. Loads only if you accept analytics.
Advertising	Measuring ad performance, attributing calls and forms to a campaign, remarketing	Google Ads tags, Meta Pixel, call tracking number insertion	No. Loads only if you accept advertising.
Embedded content	Showing reviews and office maps	Elfsight Google reviews widget, Google Maps	Loads when the page containing it is viewed.

5.1 Managing your preferences

On your first visit, a banner lets you accept all cookies, reject non-essential cookies or choose by category. You can change your choice at any time using the “Cookie Preferences” link in the footer. You can also block or delete cookies in your browser, though parts of the Site may not work correctly.

5.2 Do Not Track and Global Privacy Control

There is no common standard for responding to “Do Not Track” browser signals, and we do not respond to them. We do honor the Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal as a request to opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information and targeted advertising for that browser.

Advertising and analytics partners

6.1 Google Analytics 4

We use Google Analytics 4 to understand overall Site usage. We do not use it to identify visitors by name and we do not send form content to it. You can opt out with the Google Analytics opt-out add-on.

6.2 Google Ads

Google Ads conversion tags record when a visit leads to a call or form, and remarketing tags let us show ads to past visitors. You can manage ad personalization at My Ad Center.

6.3 Meta Pixel

If enabled, the Meta Pixel measures the performance of Facebook and Instagram ads. We do not build audiences from the content of an inquiry and we do not send case details to Meta. You can control ad settings in Meta Accounts Center.

6.4 Industry opt-out tools

Digital Advertising Alliance: optout.aboutads.info
Network Advertising Initiative: optout.networkadvertising.org

Opting out stops personalized ads. It does not stop all ads and does not delete data already collected.

Text messaging (SMS)

7.1 Consent

If you give us your mobile number and opt in, we may text you about your inquiry, consultation scheduling, meeting of creditors (341) dates, documents we need and case updates. Written consent is collected through an unchecked opt-in box on our forms, or when you text us first. We do not send promotional texts without your prior express written consent. Consent to texts is not a condition of hiring the Firm.

7.2 What to expect

Message frequency varies with your matter.
Message and data rates may apply.
Carriers are not liable for delayed or undelivered messages.
Text messaging is not secure. Do not send account numbers, Social Security numbers or documents by text.

7.3 Opting out and help

Reply STOP, END, CANCEL, UNSUBSCRIBE or QUIT to stop texts from that number. You will receive one confirmation and no further messages. Reply HELP for our contact details. You may also revoke consent by any reasonable means, including by phone or email.

7.4 No sharing of consent data

Mobile numbers and text messaging consent are not sold, rented or shared with third parties for their marketing. We share mobile numbers only with the messaging providers that deliver our messages.

How we use your information

Respond to your inquiry and assess whether we can help.
Schedule and hold consultations.
Run conflict-of-interest checks.
Provide legal services if you become a client, including preparing and filing your case.
Communicate with you by phone, text, email or mail, consistent with your preferences.
Operate, secure and improve the Site.
Measure which pages and ads are working.
Detect and prevent fraud, spam and security incidents.
Meet our legal, ethical and record-keeping obligations, and establish or defend legal claims.

We do not use automated decision-making that produces legal or similarly significant effects about you.

How we share your information

We do not sell your personal information. Some advertising and analytics tools described in Sections 5 and 6 may count as “sharing” or “targeted advertising” under certain state laws. You can opt out as described in Sections 5 and 11.

We may disclose information to:

Service providers that host the Site, process forms, track leads and calls, send email and texts, provide analytics, scheduling, document management or IT support, under contracts that limit their use of the data. When you submit our form, your entries are passed to our intake system so someone at the Firm can respond.
Advertising and analytics platforms, as described in Section 6 and subject to your consent choices.
Credit counseling and debtor education providers, if you are a client and ask us to help arrange the courses the Bankruptcy Code requires.
Courts, trustees and the U.S. Trustee Program, as required to file and manage your case. Bankruptcy filings are generally public.
Creditors and their attorneys, as needed to represent you, for example to stop a garnishment or sheriff’s sale.
Legal compliance: when required by law, subpoena or court order, or to protect the rights and safety of the Firm, our clients or others.
Business transfers, such as a merger or sale of practice assets, subject to the ethics rules governing the sale of a law practice.
Anyone else you direct us to share with.

Data retention

Inquiries that do not become cases are kept long enough to run conflict checks and document the contact, then deleted or archived.
Client files are kept as required by the Michigan Rules of Professional Conduct, our engagement agreement and bankruptcy record-keeping requirements.
Analytics data: Google Analytics 4 event data is retained for 14 months. Microsoft Clarity retains most session data for 30 days and some heatmap and sampled data for up to 13 months, on Microsoft’s schedule.
Advertising and call records are kept according to each platform’s settings and schedule.

When information is no longer needed, we delete it or de-identify it.

Your privacy rights

Depending on where you live, you may have some or all of these rights:

Access: confirm whether we hold your information and get a copy.
Correction: ask us to fix inaccurate information.
Deletion: ask us to delete information we collected from you.
Portability: receive your information in a portable format.
Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information, targeted advertising and certain profiling.
Non-discrimination: we will not treat you differently for exercising a right.
Appeal a decision on your request, where your state provides that right.

These rights have exceptions. Information in a client file, protected by attorney-client privilege or work product, or required to be kept under professional or court rules may be exempt from deletion.

11.1 How to submit a request

Contact us using Section 20 with “Privacy Request” in the subject line, and tell us which right you are exercising. We will verify your identity before acting, respond within the time the law requires (generally 45 days), and accept requests from an authorized agent with your written permission. If we deny your request, you may appeal by replying with the word “Appeal” and your reason.

Additional information for California residents

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act, gives you the rights in Section 11. In the past 12 months we may have collected the following categories:

Category	Collected	Sold or shared
Identifiers (name, email, phone, IP address, cookie IDs)	Yes	Not sold. Cookie and device IDs may be shared with Google and Meta for advertising. Name, email and phone are not.
Internet or network activity	Yes	Not sold. May be shared with Google, Meta and Microsoft.
Approximate geolocation	Yes	Not sold. May be shared with Google, Meta and Microsoft.
Audio information (voicemails)	Yes	No
Financial information	Only if you volunteer it	No
Inferences (interest in legal services)	Yes	Not sold. May be shared with Google and Meta.

We do not sell personal information and do not knowingly collect or sell information about consumers under 16. You can opt out of sharing by using “Cookie Preferences” in the footer, sending a Global Privacy Control signal or contacting us. We do not disclose personal information to third parties for their own direct marketing (California Civil Code §1798.83).

Additional information for other state residents

If you live in a state with a comprehensive consumer privacy law, such as Colorado, Virginia, Connecticut, Texas or Oregon, you have the rights in Section 11 to the extent that law applies to us. Some of these laws apply only to businesses above certain size thresholds. Where a law does not apply, we will still make a good faith effort to honor reasonable requests.

We extend the request process in Section 11 to Michigan residents as a matter of practice.

Data security

We use reasonable administrative, technical and physical safeguards, including encryption in transit (TLS), access controls and vendor review. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, so please read Section 2 before sending sensitive information. If a breach affects your personal information, we will notify you and regulators as the law requires.

Where your information is processed

We are located in the United States, and information is processed and stored in the United States. Our services are directed to people with debt and bankruptcy matters in Michigan and are not intended for residents of the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom.

Children’s privacy

The Site is not directed to children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect their information. If you believe a child has given us personal information, contact us and we will delete it.

Third-party websites and links

The Site links to third-party sites such as court resources, credit counseling providers, review platforms and social media. We do not control those sites and are not responsible for their content or privacy practices.

Your communication choices

Email: use the unsubscribe link in any marketing email, or contact us. Clients will still receive messages about their case.
Text messages: reply STOP, as described in Section 7.
Phone: tell us at any time that you prefer not to be called.
Cookies and tracking: use “Cookie Preferences,” your browser settings, Global Privacy Control or the tools in Section 6.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as our practices, technology or the law change. We will revise the “Last updated” date at the top of the page, and give more prominent notice, such as a Site banner, for material changes.

Contact us

To ask a question, submit a privacy request or raise a concern:

Southfield (main office)
28475 Greenfield, Suite 217
Southfield, MI 48076

Ann Arbor
2035 Hogback Rd #207
Ann Arbor, MI 48105

Jackson
234 W. Louis Glick Highway
Jackson, MI 49201

St. Clair Shores
25801 Harper Ave
St. Clair Shores, MI 48081

Brighton
800 W Grand River Ave, Suite 836
Brighton, MI 48116

Phone: (248) 719-5663
Email: [email protected]

Please write “Privacy Request” in the subject line. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Michigan Department of Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division, or the attorney general of your state.