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Fortress Wills & Estates

Last updated: 12 February 2026

 

 

1. Introduction

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Fortress Wills & Estates (“we”, “us”, “our”) is committed to protecting your personal data and respecting your privacy.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store and protect personal data in accordance with:

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• UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR)

• Data Protection Act 2018

• Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR)

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This policy applies to:

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• Website visitors

• Enquiries

• Clients

• Professional contacts

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2. Who We Are

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Trading Name: Fortress Wills & Estates

Registered Address: Investment House, Bold Square, Chester, CH1 3LZ

Email: wills@fortresswills.co.uk

Telephone: 01244 906360

We are the Data Controller for the personal data we process.

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3. The Personal Data We Collect

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Because of the nature of our services, we may collect detailed personal information.

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Identity Data

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• Full name

• Date of birth

• Address

• Identification documents

• Contact Data

• Email address

• Telephone numbers

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Estate & Financial Information

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• Assets and liabilities

• Property ownership

• Bank details (where relevant)

• Business interests

• Pension information

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Family & Beneficiary Information

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• Details of spouses, partners, children and dependants

• Executor and trustee details

• Beneficiary information

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Special Category Data (where required)

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• Health information (e.g. capacity considerations)

• Vulnerability information

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We only collect information necessary to provide our services.

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4. How We Collect Your Data

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We collect personal data through:

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• Website enquiry forms

• Email and telephone communications

• In-person meetings

• Client instruction forms

• Identity verification processes

• Third-party referrals

• Public records (where appropriate)

• Website cookies and analytics tools

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5. Lawful Basis for Processing

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We process personal data under the following lawful bases:

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Contractual Necessity

To prepare wills, lasting powers of attorney, trusts and estate planning documentation.

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Legal Obligation

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To comply with applicable legal requirements, including:

•  Anti-money laundering checks

• Identity verification

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Legitimate Interests

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For:

• Business administration

• Service improvement

• Responding to enquiries

• Preventing fraud

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Consent

Where required for:

• Marketing communications

• Special category health data

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You may withdraw consent at any time.

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Legal Claims

To establish, exercise or defend legal claims.

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6. How We Use Your Data

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We use personal data to:

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• Draft wills and estate planning documents

• Prepare lasting powers of attorney

• Establish and manage trusts

• Verify identity

• Communicate with you

• Store and manage client records

• Improve our services

• Send relevant updates (where permitted)

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We do not sell personal data.

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7. Sharing Your Data

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We may share personal data with:

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• HM Courts & Tribunals Service (for LPAs, probate etc.)

• Identity verification providers

• Professional advisers (solicitors, accountants)

• Executors or trustees (where instructed)

• IT and cloud service providers

• Compliance advisers

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Some third parties act as data processors under written agreements. Others act as independent data controllers.

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8. International Transfers

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Where service providers process data outside the UK, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as UK adequacy decisions or International Data Transfer Agreements.

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9. Data Retention

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We retain personal data only as long as necessary.

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Typical retention periods:

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• Client files: up to 6 years after last contact

• Wills and estate planning documents: may be retained longer where appropriate

• AML documentation: 5 years after the end of the relationship

• Marketing data: until consent withdrawn

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Retention may be extended where legally required.

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10. Data Security

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We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures, including:

• Secure document storage

• Encryption in transit

• Restricted access controls

• Staff confidentiality obligations

• Secure disposal procedures​

 

11. Automated Decision-Making

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We do not make decisions based solely on automated processing that produces legal or significant effects.

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12. Your Rights

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You have the right to:

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• Access your personal data

• Request correction

• Request erasure (where applicable)

• Restrict processing

• Object to processing

• Data portability

• Withdraw consent

• Object to direct marketing

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Requests can be made via the contact details above. We will respond within one month.

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13. Complaints

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If you are unhappy with how your data is handled, please contact us first.

You also have the right to complain to:

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Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO)

Wycliffe House

Water Lane

Wilmslow

Cheshire

SK9 5AF

 

www.ico.org.uk

Telephone: 0303 123 1113

 

14. Changes to This Policy

 

We may update this policy from time to time. The latest version will always be available on our website.