SMS & TEXT MESSAGING PRIVACY POLICY

MALHOTRA & ASSOCIATES

SMS AND TEXT-MESSAGING PRIVACY POLICY

Effective Date: July 15, 2026
Last Updated: July 15, 2026

Malhotra & Associates (“Malhotra & Associates,” “the Firm,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy. This SMS and Text-Messaging Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, protect, retain, and disclose information obtained through our text-messaging program.

This policy applies to SMS, MMS, and other mobile messages sent by or on behalf of Malhotra & Associates regarding inquiries, consultations, appointments, legal matters, client services, account administration, and other law-firm communications.

1. Information We Collect

When you communicate with us by text message or enroll in our text-messaging program, we may collect:

Your name;
Your mobile telephone number;
The date, time, and content of messages exchanged with us;
Your consent and opt-in records;
Your opt-out or unsubscribe requests;
Information concerning your legal inquiry or matter that you voluntarily provide;
Appointment, consultation, and scheduling information;
Delivery, carrier, device, and messaging metadata;
Information necessary to verify your identity or locate your client matter; and
Other information you voluntarily provide through text messaging.

Please do not send Social Security numbers, complete financial-account numbers, passwords, highly sensitive medical information, original evidence, or other confidential information by text unless an attorney or authorized Firm representative specifically instructs you to do so through an approved method.

2. How We Use Text-Messaging Information

We may use information collected through text messaging to:

Respond to inquiries about legal services;
Schedule or confirm consultations and appointments;
Communicate with current or prospective clients;
Provide case-status updates and administrative notifications;
Request documents, information, signatures, or payments;
Send court-date, deadline, meeting, or appointment reminders;
Provide office, billing, intake, or client-service information;
Send information about Firm services when separately authorized;
Maintain records of communications and consent;
Detect and prevent misuse, fraud, or unauthorized access;
Comply with legal, ethical, regulatory, and professional obligations; and
Operate, maintain, and improve our communications systems.

3. Mobile Information and Consent Will Not Be Sold

Malhotra & Associates does not sell, rent, or lease your mobile telephone number or SMS consent information to third parties.

We will not share or disclose your mobile telephone number, SMS opt-in data, or text-messaging consent to third parties or affiliates for their own marketing or promotional purposes.

No mobile information will be shared with third parties or affiliates for marketing or promotional purposes. Information sharing with service providers described below does not include sharing text-messaging originator opt-in data or consent with third parties for their independent marketing.

4. Service Providers

We may disclose information to vendors that assist us in operating our law practice and communications systems, including telecommunications providers, messaging-platform providers, practice-management providers, scheduling providers, cloud-storage providers, payment processors, cybersecurity providers, and other vendors acting on our behalf.

These service providers may access information only as reasonably necessary to provide services to the Firm and are expected to protect the information in accordance with contractual, legal, and professional obligations.

5. Legal and Professional Disclosures

We may disclose information when reasonably necessary to:

Comply with a subpoena, court order, law, regulation, or governmental request;
Protect the rights, property, safety, or security of the Firm, our clients, or others;
Investigate fraud, security incidents, or misuse of our systems;
Establish, exercise, or defend legal claims;
Comply with attorney-ethics, professional-responsibility, recordkeeping, or malpractice-insurance requirements; or
Facilitate a lawful Firm reorganization, succession, or transfer, subject to applicable confidentiality obligations.

Nothing in this Privacy Policy authorizes disclosure of information protected by the attorney-client privilege, work-product doctrine, or applicable rules of professional conduct.

6. Attorney-Client Relationship and Confidentiality

Sending a text message to Malhotra & Associates does not, by itself, create an attorney-client relationship.

An attorney-client relationship is formed only after the Firm has completed any required conflict review, agreed to accept the representation, and entered into an applicable written retainer or engagement agreement.

Before an attorney-client relationship is established, information sent by text may not be protected by the attorney-client privilege. Prospective clients should avoid sending confidential or time-sensitive information until the Firm confirms that it represents them.

Text messaging is not guaranteed to be completely secure. Messages may be viewed by individuals with access to your telephone, mobile account, cloud backups, or telecommunications provider.

7. Consent to Receive Messages

We send text messages only when permitted by applicable law and when the recipient has provided appropriate consent or initiated the communication.

Consent may be provided through:

A website or online intake form;
A written or electronic authorization;
A retainer or engagement agreement;
An oral request documented by the Firm;
A direct text message to the Firm;
An appointment or consultation request; or
Another clear affirmative action indicating agreement to receive messages.

Consent to receive automated or promotional text messages is not a condition of purchasing legal services or retaining the Firm.

8. Opting Out

You may withdraw your consent and stop receiving text messages at any time by replying:

STOP

You may also use another reasonable statement clearly indicating that you no longer wish to receive text messages, including “Cancel,” “End,” “Quit,” “Revoke,” “Opt Out,” or “Unsubscribe.”

After receiving an opt-out request, we may send one final message confirming that your request has been processed. We will then stop sending messages covered by the request unless you later provide new consent.

Opting out of text messaging will not terminate an attorney-client relationship or prevent us from contacting you through another legally permissible method when necessary to provide legal services or satisfy professional obligations.

9. Re-Enrolling

After opting out, you may request to resume text messages by replying:

START

You may also contact the Firm directly and provide renewed consent.

10. Help

For assistance with our text-messaging program, reply:

HELP

You may also contact:

Malhotra & Associates
940 Broad Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Telephone: (973) 623-0555
Primary Email: Karan@malhotra.law
Alternate Email: Malhotra.esquire@gmail.com
Website: www.Malhotralaws.com

11. Message Frequency and Charges

Message frequency varies depending on your interactions with the Firm, the nature of your inquiry, and the requirements of your legal matter.

Message and data rates may apply according to your mobile-service plan. Malhotra & Associates does not charge a separate fee for receiving text messages, although your wireless carrier may do so.

Carriers are not responsible for delayed or undelivered messages.

12. Data Security

We maintain reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect information in our possession.

However, no mobile, wireless, electronic-storage, or internet-based communication system is completely secure. We cannot guarantee the absolute security, confidentiality, or availability of text messages.

You are responsible for protecting access to your mobile device and notifying us promptly if your telephone is lost or stolen, your telephone number changes, your number is transferred to another person, or you believe someone accessed Firm messages without authorization.

13. Data Retention

We may retain text messages, consent records, opt-out records, communications logs, and related information for as long as reasonably necessary to:

Provide legal services;
Maintain client or prospective-client files;
Comply with professional, legal, tax, insurance, and recordkeeping obligations;
Resolve disputes;
Establish or defend legal rights; and
Enforce our agreements and policies.

14. Children’s Privacy

Our text-messaging program is not intended for children under 13.

A parent, guardian, or legally authorized representative should provide consent where communications concern a minor.

15. Third-Party Links and Platforms

Messages may contain links to payment portals, scheduling platforms, document portals, court websites, government websites, or other third-party services.

Malhotra & Associates does not control the privacy practices, security, availability, or content of third-party services. Your use of those services is governed by their own policies and terms.

16. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy periodically to reflect changes in our practices, technology, services, or legal requirements.

The updated policy will be posted with a revised “Last Updated” date.

17. Contact Us

Questions or concerns regarding this policy may be directed to:

Malhotra & Associates
Attn: Privacy and SMS Compliance
940 Broad Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Telephone: (973) 623-0555
Primary Email: Karan@malhotra.law
Alternate Email: Malhotra.esquire@gmail.com
Website: www.Malhotralaws.com