Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

SmallClaims.com (the "Site") is operated by SmallClaims LLC ("SmallClaims," "we," "us," or "our"). This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect when you use the Site, how we use and share it, and the choices and rights you have. It is part of, and incorporated into, our Terms of Use. The Site is intended for users in the United States.

By using the Site, you agree to this Policy. If you do not agree, please do not use the Site.

2. The short version

We built SmallClaims to help people navigate small claims court, and we aim to collect only what we need to run the Site well. You do not need an account to use the Site. We do not sell or rent your personal information, and we do not use it for targeted advertising. We use analytics tools to understand how the Site is used, and some of those tools use cookies. You can control cookies through your browser, and the sections below explain what we collect and the choices you have.

3. Information we collect

3.1 Information you provide to us

You can use most of the Site without giving us any personal information. You may choose to provide information in two situations:

• Court-finder and search. When you search for a court or use our court-finder, you may enter information such as a ZIP code, city, county, or a short description of where a dispute arose. We use this only to return relevant court information to you. We do not use it to identify you or to build a profile about you.
• Contacting us. If you email us (for example, at our support address), we receive your email address and whatever information you include in your message, and we use it to respond to you.

3.2 Information we collect automatically

When you visit the Site, we and our infrastructure providers automatically receive technical information that is standard for operating a website: your IP address, browser type and settings, device and operating-system information, the pages you view and links you click, the date and time of your visit, and the website or source that referred you. We use this to deliver and secure the Site and to understand, in aggregate, how it is used. We also use the approximate location estimated from your IP address to suggest the state whose information is most likely relevant to you. You can always view or choose a different state.

3.3 Analytics

We use third-party analytics and product-measurement services to understand how the Site is used — for example, which pages are visited, how visitors move through the Site, and which features are useful — so we can improve it. We may add, remove, or change analytics providers over time. Depending on the provider and how it is configured, these services may set cookies and may collect information such as your IP address, device and browser details, the pages and links you interact with, and usage patterns, which the provider processes on our behalf. We do not use these analytics tools to serve you targeted advertising or to track you across unrelated websites for advertising.

3.4 Security and bot protection

We use a content-delivery and security provider to deliver the Site and to protect it against malicious traffic, abuse, and denial-of-service attacks. Where we deploy bot-protection technology, it processes limited technical signals to tell humans apart from automated bots. These functions necessarily involve processing technical information such as IP addresses and request metadata.

3.5 Cookies and similar technologies

We use cookies and similar technologies for two purposes: (1) strictly necessary cookies that keep the Site secure and functioning correctly, including cookies set by our security and content-delivery provider; and (2) analytics and performance cookies set by the analytics tools described above, which help us understand how the Site is used. We do not use cookies for cross-context behavioral (targeted) advertising. You can block or delete cookies through your browser settings, and you can opt out of certain analytics tools using the controls those providers offer (for example, your browser settings or a provider's own opt-out tool). Blocking some cookies may affect how the Site works.

3.6 What we do not collect

We collect only what we need to run the Site. You don't need an account, and we don't collect sensitive personal information, such as your Social Security number. We also don't knowingly collect personal information from children (see "Children's privacy" below).

4. How we use information

We use the information described above to:

• operate, maintain, deliver, and improve the Site and its court information and tools;
• respond to your inquiries and provide support;
• keep the Site secure, prevent abuse and fraud, and protect our rights and the rights of our users; and
• comply with applicable law and respond to lawful requests.

We do not use your information to make automated decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects about you.

5. How we share information

We do not sell your personal information, and we do not share it for cross-context behavioral (targeted) advertising. We share information only in these limited circumstances:

• Service providers. We use a small number of vendors to host and operate the Site, such as hosting and infrastructure, database, content-delivery and security, analytics, and email providers. These providers process information only on our behalf, to provide services to us, and under contracts that limit their use of the information.
• Legal and safety. We may disclose information if required by law, subpoena, or other legal process, or where we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to comply with the law, enforce our Terms, or protect the rights, property, or safety of SmallClaims, our users, or the public.
• Business transfers. If SmallClaims is involved in a merger, acquisition, financing, or sale of assets, information may be transferred as part of that transaction, subject to this Policy.

6. Do Not Track and Global Privacy Control

Some browsers offer a "Do Not Track" (DNT) signal. Because there is no common industry standard for interpreting DNT signals, the Site does not respond differently to them. We do, however, treat a Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal as a valid request to opt out of any "sale" or "sharing" of personal information, to the extent that concept applies — though, as noted above, we do not sell or share personal information for advertising in the first place.

7. Data retention

We keep personal information only for as long as necessary for the purposes described in this Policy, and as required to operate the Site, resolve disputes, and comply with our legal obligations. Technical and security logs are kept for a limited period and then deleted or de-identified. Where information is no longer needed, we delete or de-identify it.

8. Data security

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures designed to protect personal information against loss, misuse, and unauthorized access, including delivering the Site over encrypted connections. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, however, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

9. Children's privacy

The Site is intended for adults (18 and older) and is not directed to children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 13 (or under the age defined as a minor in your state). If you believe a child has provided us personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.

10. Your privacy rights

10.1 California residents (CCPA/CPRA)

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act, gives you certain rights regarding your personal information.

• Categories we collect. In the preceding 12 months we have collected these categories of personal information: identifiers (such as IP address and, where analytics cookies are used, online or cookie identifiers); internet or other electronic network activity (such as usage, browsing, and device information); and approximate location derived from IP address. We collect this information directly from you and automatically from your device when you use the Site, and we use it for the business purposes described in "How we use information."
• Categories we disclose. We disclose the categories above only to our service providers, for the operational purposes described in "How we share information." We do not sell or share personal information.
• Your rights. Subject to certain exceptions, you have the right to know and access the personal information we have collected about you, to delete it, to correct inaccurate information, and to opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information. Because we do not sell or share personal information, and do not use sensitive personal information for purposes that trigger the "limit" right, those particular rights have nothing to act on — but you may still contact us to confirm this. We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of these rights.
• How to exercise. You, or an authorized agent acting on your behalf, may submit a request using the contact details below. We will verify your request using the information available to us and respond as required by law.

10.2 Residents of other U.S. states

A number of other states have comprehensive privacy laws that provide similar rights, which may include the right to access, correct, delete, and obtain a portable copy of your personal information, and to opt out of targeted advertising, the sale of personal information, and certain profiling. The specific rights available to you depend on your state of residence and on whether the law applies to us. To exercise any rights you have, contact us using the details below; if we decline your request, you may have the right to appeal, and we will provide instructions for doing so.

10.3 Making a request

To exercise any of the rights above, email us at the address in "Contact us." We will respond within the timeframes required by applicable law. Exercising these rights is free, although we may charge a reasonable fee or decline a request that is excessive or unfounded, as permitted by law.

11. Third-party links

The Site may link to court websites, government resources, and other third-party sites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those sites, and we encourage you to review their privacy policies.

12. Changes to this Policy

We may update this Policy from time to time. When we do, we will revise the "Last updated" date above, and, if the changes are material, we will provide a more prominent notice. Your continued use of the Site after an update means you accept the revised Policy.

13. Contact us

If you have questions about this Policy or wish to exercise your privacy rights, contact SmallClaims LLC at legal@smallclaims.com.