1. Who we are
S. Williams Professional McKenzie Friend is the trading name of Stuart Williams, providing independent McKenzie Friend support and assistance to individuals involved in Family Court proceedings.
For the purposes of UK data protection law, Stuart Williams is the data controller and is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
ICO Registration Reference: ZC219133
For any questions concerning this Privacy Policy or the way your personal information is handled, please contact:
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 07946 777066
Website: swilliamsmckenziefriend.co.uk
2. Information we may collect
The nature of Family Court proceedings means that clients may need to provide significant amounts of personal and sometimes sensitive information.
Depending upon the circumstances of your case and the services you request, information we process may include:
- your name, address, telephone number and email address;
- information about your children and other family members;
- details concerning current or previous Family Court proceedings;
- court orders, applications, statements, reports, correspondence and other case documents;
- information concerning relationships and family circumstances;
- financial information where relevant to your case or payment for services;
- information concerning health or medical circumstances;
- information concerning allegations of domestic abuse or other safeguarding matters;
- information relating to criminal allegations, convictions or offences where relevant to the proceedings;
- communications between you and other parties, professionals or organisations;
- photographs, messages, emails and other material provided as evidence; and
- any other information you choose to provide which is relevant to the assistance you have requested.
Some of this information may constitute special category personal data or criminal offence data under UK data protection law.
We will only process information that is reasonably necessary for providing the services you have requested or for meeting our legal and professional obligations.
3. Information concerning children and other people
Family Court cases frequently involve information about children and other individuals who are not themselves clients.
Where you provide information about another person, including a child, former partner, family member, professional or witness, that information will only be processed where reasonably necessary in connection with the services you have requested, the relevant proceedings, or our legal obligations.
Particular care will be taken when handling information relating to children.
You should avoid providing personal information that is not reasonably relevant to your case or the assistance you require.
4. How we obtain personal information
We may obtain information:
- directly from you;
- through telephone calls, email, WhatsApp or other agreed methods of communication;
- from documents and evidence you provide;
- from court orders, applications, statements and other case papers;
- from solicitors, barristers or other professionals where appropriate;
- from publicly available information where relevant; and
- from other sources where you have authorised or requested us to receive information.
5. How we use your information
Personal information may be used to:
- respond to enquiries;
- assess whether we are able to assist you;
- provide McKenzie Friend support;
- communicate with you concerning your case;
- review and organise case papers and evidence;
- assist with the preparation of applications, statements, chronologies, schedules and other court documents;
- assist you in preparing for hearings;
- provide support at court where instructed and permitted;
- maintain appropriate records of work undertaken;
- issue invoices and maintain financial records;
- manage the professional relationship between us;
- comply with legal, regulatory, tax, insurance and professional obligations;
- establish, exercise or defend legal claims; and
- protect our legitimate business and professional interests.
We will not sell your personal information.
6. Our lawful basis for processing
Under UK data protection law, we must have a lawful basis for processing personal information.
Depending upon the circumstances, we may process your personal information because:
- it is necessary to take steps at your request before entering into an agreement with you;
- it is necessary to perform our agreement with you;
- processing is necessary to comply with a legal obligation;
- processing is necessary for our legitimate interests in operating and protecting the business and providing professional services, where those interests are not overridden by your rights; or
- you have given consent where consent is the appropriate lawful basis.
Where special category personal data is processed, an additional lawful condition will also be required. Given the nature of Family Court work, this may include circumstances where processing is necessary for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims.
Where criminal offence information is processed, it will only be processed where there is an appropriate lawful basis and condition permitting that processing.
7. Confidentiality and sharing information
Information provided in connection with your case will be treated confidentially.
However, it may sometimes be necessary or appropriate to share information with third parties, including:
- courts and tribunals;
- solicitors, barristers and other legal professionals;
- Cafcass or Cafcass Cymru;
- local authorities and social services;
- experts and other professionals involved in proceedings;
- service providers used to operate the business securely;
- insurers or professional bodies where legitimately required;
- HM Revenue & Customs, regulators or other public authorities where required by law; and
- other persons where you have asked or authorised us to share information.
Information will only be shared where there is a proper reason for doing so and, where appropriate, only the information reasonably necessary for that purpose will be disclosed.
Nothing in this Privacy Policy overrides any restrictions imposed by the Family Court concerning the disclosure or publication of information relating to proceedings.
8. Electronic communications and service providers
We may use email, telephone, WhatsApp Business and other appropriate electronic systems to communicate with clients and operate the business.
We may also use reputable third-party providers for services such as website hosting, email, document storage, payment processing, banking, accounting or other business administration.
Where third-party providers process personal information on our behalf, reasonable steps will be taken to use providers offering appropriate data-protection and security safeguards.
9. International transfers
Some technology and service providers may process or store information outside the United Kingdom.
Where personal information is transferred internationally, we will take reasonable steps to ensure that an appropriate lawful mechanism and safeguards are in place as required by UK data protection law.
10. How long we keep information
Personal information will not be retained for longer than reasonably necessary.
The appropriate retention period will depend upon the nature of the information, the services provided, the circumstances of the case and any applicable legal, tax, insurance or professional requirements.
Information may need to be retained after our work with you has concluded where this is reasonably necessary to maintain appropriate professional records, comply with legal obligations, deal with complaints or insurance matters, or establish, exercise or defend legal claims.
When information is no longer required, it will be securely deleted or destroyed where reasonably practicable.
11. Keeping information secure
Reasonable technical and organisational measures will be used to protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration or disclosure.
Given the particularly sensitive nature of Family Court information, clients are also encouraged to take appropriate precautions when sending, receiving and storing documents and communications.
No electronic system can be guaranteed to be completely secure, but appropriate and proportionate steps will be taken to protect the information entrusted to us.
12. Your data protection rights
Depending upon the circumstances, UK data protection law may give you rights including:
- the right to be informed about how your information is used;
- the right to request access to personal information held about you;
- the right to request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information;
- the right to request deletion of information in certain circumstances;
- the right to request restriction of processing in certain circumstances;
- the right to object to certain processing;
- the right to data portability where applicable; and
- rights relating to automated decision-making where applicable.
These rights are not absolute and may be subject to exemptions or restrictions, particularly where information is required in connection with legal proceedings or legal obligations.
Requests concerning your personal information can be made using the contact details at the beginning of this Privacy Policy.
13. Complaints
If you have concerns about how your personal information has been handled, please contact Stuart Williams in the first instance using the contact details above so that the matter can be considered.
You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's independent data protection regulator.
Information Commissioner's Office`Attachment.png`
14. Cookies and website information
The website may collect limited technical information necessary for its operation and security.
Where cookies or similar technologies are used, information about those technologies and any choices available to visitors should be provided through the website's cookie notice or cookie-management facility where required.
The website should not use non-essential cookies requiring consent unless the appropriate consent has first been obtained.
15. Changes to this Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in the services provided, technology used, legal requirements or business practices.
The current version will be published on the website together with the date on which it was last updated.
Last updated: 16 August 2026