Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy explains how Polish Lineage collects, uses and protects your personal information when you visit polishlineage.com or contact us about confirmation of Polish citizenship by descent.
1. Who we are
Polish Lineage is the practice of Małgorzata Schneider, attorney at law (radca prawny) registered with the Regional Bar Chamber of Legal Advisers in Gdańsk, ul. Starowiejska 16/2, 81-356 Gdynia, Poland (the "data controller"). Contact: hello@polishlineage.com, +1 (212) 301-7798.
2. Information we collect
- Contact details you provide in our forms or emails: name, email address, phone number.
- Family and genealogical information you choose to share: details about your Polish ancestor (name, dates and places of birth, emigration and naturalization), your family line, and documents you send us.
- Sensitive information. Some of what you share may reveal ethnic origin or religion (for example, that your ancestor was of Jewish descent). We ask for this only because it can affect eligibility and where records are held. By providing it you consent to our using it for that purpose. You can leave these questions blank.
- Payment information is processed by Stripe. We do not store your full card number.
- Technical data collected automatically when you visit the site: IP address, browser type, pages viewed, and how you found us (for example, via Google search or a referral link). We use cookies and similar tools for this; see section 7.
3. How we use your information
- To review your family details and reply with a preliminary assessment of your case.
- To schedule and hold consultation calls.
- To provide legal services under a signed engagement agreement, including obtaining records from Polish and foreign archives and filing your application with the Polish authorities.
- To send you information about your case and, if you agree, occasional emails about Polish citizenship by descent. You can unsubscribe at any time.
- To process payments, keep accounting records and meet our legal obligations.
- To run and improve the website.
Legal bases under the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): your consent, performance of a contract (or steps at your request before entering one), our legal obligations, and our legitimate interest in running and promoting our practice.
4. Who we share information with
We do not sell your personal information. We share it only with service providers who help us operate, under confidentiality obligations:
- customer relationship and email software (LeadConnector / HighLevel),
- email and document hosting (Google Workspace),
- website hosting (Netlify) and domain services,
- payment processing (Stripe),
- Polish and foreign archives, civil registry offices, translators and courier services, where needed for your case,
- Polish public authorities processing your citizenship application,
- advisors and authorities where the law requires.
Some providers are located in the United States. Where data is transferred outside the European Economic Area, we rely on standard contractual clauses or other safeguards recognised under the GDPR.
5. How long we keep information
Enquiries that do not become a case: up to 3 years from our last contact. Client files: for the period required by Polish law for legal practices and tax records (generally 10 years after the case is closed). You can ask us to delete your information earlier, subject to those obligations.
6. Your rights
You may ask us to access, correct, delete or restrict the use of your personal information, object to processing based on legitimate interest, withdraw consent, and receive a copy of your data in a portable format. Write to hello@polishlineage.com. You also have the right to complain to a supervisory authority; in Poland this is the President of the Personal Data Protection Office (UODO), ul. Stawki 2, 00-193 Warsaw.
If you are a California resident, you may have additional rights under California law, including the right to know what personal information we collect and to request its deletion. We do not sell or share personal information for cross-context behavioural advertising.
7. Cookies and analytics
We use strictly necessary cookies to make the site and our forms work, and may use analytics and advertising cookies (such as Google Analytics and Google Ads) to understand how visitors use the site and to measure our advertising. You can control cookies in your browser settings. Blocking cookies may affect some features.
8. Security
We use reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your information, including encrypted connections, access controls and reputable service providers. No method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.
9. Children
Our services are for adults. When a parent or guardian provides information about a minor for the purpose of including the child in a citizenship application, we use it only for that purpose.
10. Changes
We may update this policy from time to time. The date at the top shows when it was last changed.
11. Contact
Małgorzata Schneider, attorney at law · Polish Lineage · ul. Starowiejska 16/2, 81-356 Gdynia, Poland · hello@polishlineage.com · +1 (212) 301-7798