Privacy Policy

PRIVACY POLICY

Effective Date: October 1, 2025 (Version 1.0)

Thank you for visiting our website. A Lasting Tie, LLC ("Company," "we," or "us") values your privacy and has developed this Privacy Policy ("Privacy Policy") to explain how we collect, use, and protect your information. We recognize the importance of privacy to Internet users and have designed our services with that in mind.

By using this website (the "Website"), you acknowledge and agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy when you:

Access or use the Website;
Register for or select an offer on the Website by clicking on the available options; and/or
Provide your express consent to the terms of this Privacy Policy.

If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use or access the Website.

We encourage you to read this Privacy Policy carefully before using the Website or submitting any personal information.

1. Information We Collect

A. Categories of Personal Information We Collect

Category	Examples	Collected?
Identifiers	Name, email, phone, address, age	Yes
Protected Classifications	Age, marital status, religious affiliation	Yes
Commercial Information	Payment records, service preferences	Yes
Internet/Electronic Activity	Website usage, email interactions	Yes
Geolocation Data	City/state of residence	Yes
Audio/Visual Information	Photos, consultation recordings	Yes
Professional/Educational	Occupation, education level	Yes
Inferences	Compatibility assessments, match recommendations	Yes

B. Sources of Information

We collect personal information from the following sources:

Directly from you (forms, consultations, communications)
From your pastor or personal references (with your consent)
Third-party background check providers
Analytics providers and website interaction tools
Social media platforms (if you connect accounts)

C. Business/Commercial Purposes

We use your personal information for:

Providing matchmaking services and consultations
Facilitating introductions between compatible clients
Verifying eligibility and conducting background checks
Communicating about services and providing customer support
Improving our services and analyzing usage patterns
Marketing our services (with your consent)
Ensuring safety and preventing fraud
Complying with legal obligations

D. Categories of Third Parties We Share Information With

We may share your information with:

Background check providers (for eligibility verification)
Potential matches (limited information, with mutual consent)
Service providers (Google Workspace, Tilda, payment processors)
Legal authorities (when required by law)
Professional advisors (attorneys, accountants - aggregate data only)

E. Detailed Information Collection

We collect personal information that you voluntarily provide through the Website in order to better serve our customers. This may include:

Contact and Identity Information:

Name
Age or age range
Address, city, state and zip code
Email address
Telephone number
Fax number

Relationship and Personal Information:

Marital status
Affiliation
Relationship intentions
Previous relationship history
Responses to faith and lifestyle questionnaires
Photo(s)
Information about your interests and use of products, programs, or services
Education level and interests
Pastoral and personal references (optional but recommended for spiritual accountability)

Financial Information:

Payment information (e.g., credit card details) when voluntarily submitted

If credit card information is collected by A Lasting Tie or any of its affiliates/subsidiaries, it will be kept strictly confidential and will not be shared with third parties (other than consumer credit agencies) without your prior informed consent. However, we may share the fact that we maintain credit card information on file for specific customers.

Consultation Information: If you participate in a video consultation, we may also collect information about your faith journey, vision for marriage, past relationship experiences, lifestyle expectations, church involvement, family background, cultural expectations, and readiness for commitment. Consultations may be recorded—with your explicit consent—and stored securely using encrypted Google Workspace Business tools. Consultation materials include intake forms, profiles, photos, preferences, consultation notes, eligibility determinations, recordings, transcripts, AI-generated summaries. These materials are used solely for internal matching purposes and are never sold, used for advertising, or shared with third parties.

Reference Information: If you were referred by a pastor, mentor, or other personal references, this referral information may be stored in your client record and, where appropriate, shared with a prospective match as part of the introduction process. We disclose this solely to support faith-based transparency and alignment. However, A Lasting Tie does not verify or endorse its accuracy. Contact information for references may be collected but will not be shared with matches unless explicitly consented to by both the reference and the client.

F. Non-Personally Identifiable Information
We also collect non-personal data to improve your experience, analyze trends, and enhance our services. Examples include:

Log files (IP addresses, browser type, ISP, referring/exit pages, date/time, click activity)
Session logs, web beacons, pixel/GIF tags, banner ads
Third-party analytics tools (e.g., Google Analytics)
Retargeting networks (to display ads on other sites you visit)
Cookies (session and persistent)

Cookies help us remember your preferences and deliver content tailored to your interests. They do not collect personally identifiable information. You can disable cookies in your browser, but some site functions may not work properly.

1.1 Document Integration

This Privacy Policy is part of a comprehensive legal framework that includes the Matchmaking Services Agreement, Terms & Conditions, Letter of Intent, and Service Completion Agreement. In case of conflicts regarding data handling, privacy rights, or related matters, the Matchmaking Services Agreement takes precedence, followed by this Privacy Policy. For complete terms of service, please review all governing documents available at www.alastingtie.com.

2. Your California Privacy Rights

Right to Know: You may request disclosure of the categories and specific pieces of personal information we collect, use, disclose, and sell.

Right to Delete: You may request deletion of personal information, subject to certain exceptions.

Right to Opt-Out: You may opt-out of the sale of personal information (though we do not sell information).

Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your privacy rights.

Submitting Requests:

Email: contact@alastingtie.com
Subject Line: "California Privacy Request"
Include: Full name, email address, and specific request
Response Time: 45 days (may extend to 90 days with notice)
Verification: We may require additional information to verify your identity

Do Not Sell My Personal Information

We do not sell personal information. However, our use of analytics and advertising tools may constitute "sharing" under California law. You may opt-out by emailing contact@alastingtie.com.

Additional State Privacy Rights:

Colorado Residents: Under the Colorado Privacy Act (CPA), you have the right to:
- Correct inaccurate personal data
- Data portability for personal information
- Protection against discrimination for exercising privacy rights
- Opt-out of targeted advertising and profiling

New York Residents: You retain all privacy rights under New York state law, including protections under New York General Business Law Article 29-H regarding deceptive practices and data handling.

All state-specific privacy rights are in addition to the rights described above and may be exercised using the same contact procedures.

3. How We Use Your Information

While your personal information remains your property, by submitting it you grant A Lasting Tie permission to use it for lawful purposes, including but not limited to:

Tracking compliance with our Terms of Use
Validation, content improvement, and feedback
Sending promotional offers via email or banner advertising
Sharing data with trusted third parties when necessary to provide services or products you request
Assessing compatibility for potential matches
Conducting consultations and follow-ups
Facilitating match introductions
Storing match records for re-engagement (if applicable)
Improving the quality of our service
Ensuring compliance with our Terms & Conditions
Generating anonymous, aggregated data to understand general trends
Contacting pastoral and personal references for verification and spiritual accountability purposes

We may maintain multiple email lists, and unsubscribing from one does not automatically remove you from all. We never send unsolicited commercial emails.
In limited circumstances, we may disclose your information:

To comply with a legal obligation (court order, subpoena, etc.);
In the event A Lasting Tie is sold, acquired, or merged;
To prevent unlawful use of our Website.

4. Sharing of Information

We may share your information with third-party companies to provide services or products you request. By submitting your email and consenting to receive communications, you agree to receive marketing messages from both A Lasting Tie and trusted third-party partners.

These partners may include advertisers, service providers, and affiliates. We may also transfer personal information to contractors, subcontractors, affiliates, or subsidiaries who provide services such as background checks, database hosting, customer support, or accounting.

A Lasting Tie is not responsible for the privacy practices or content of third-party websites linked or advertised on our Website.

5. Minors

The Website is not intended for individuals under 21. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. Parents or guardians who believe their child has submitted information should contact us (see Section 16), and we will make reasonable efforts to delete such data.

6. IP Addresses

When you access our website, we may collect basic technical information such as your IP address, browser type, and session timestamps for troubleshooting purposes and to improve the security and performance of our services. We may use IP addresses to help prevent fraud, diagnose server issues, gather demographic data, and improve services.

7. Data Security and Storage

We take industry-standard measures to protect your data, including firewalls, encryption, token authentication, monitoring technologies, and strict access controls. We apply reasonable technical and organizational safeguards to protect your information against unauthorized access, disclosure, or misuse.

However, no data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed 100% secure. Please take precautions to protect your own personal information.

Your personal information is securely stored using the following platforms:

Tilda (for website submissions)
Google Workspace Apps (for client records, email, and file storage)

Gmail Address Requirement: Our services require a Gmail address for secure integration with our Google Workspace-based client management system. This is a technical requirement for system functionality, not a personal eligibility criterion.

Email Processing: Email addresses submitted through our website contact forms are initially processed by Tilda.com and automatically transferred to our secure Google Workspace systems within 30 minutes of submission.
Consultation materials include video/audio recordings, transcripts, AI-generated summaries, and screenshots. All of these materials are considered personal data and are collected solely for internal matchmaking purposes with your explicit consent as detailed in the Matchmaking Services Agreement Section 12 (Recording Consent and Consultation Documentation).

Recording Consent Summary: All consultations may be recorded only with mutual consent of both parties. You have the right to withdraw consent before, during, or after consultations, with specific procedures and limitations detailed in the Matchmaking Services Agreement. Withdrawal of recording consent does not affect your eligibility for services but may impact service quality.

These materials are never sold, shared for advertising, or transferred outside the United States. All consultation materials are encrypted and access is restricted to authorized personnel only. Data is processed and stored exclusively in the United States, using Tilda and Google Workspace Apps, in compliance with U.S. privacy law.

Data Deletion: At the end of each retention period, data is automatically and permanently deleted using secure deletion protocols that prevent recovery. Where data is stored with third-party service providers (e.g., Google), deletion is subject to their retention policies, and A Lasting Tie will take commercially reasonable steps to ensure permanent deletion.

8. Withdrawing Consent

You may unsubscribe from communications by following the instructions in our emails. As we maintain multiple lists, you may need to unsubscribe separately from each.

To stop communications from third parties, you must contact them directly.

Clients may withdraw consent for the use of their personal information at any time; however, withdrawal may affect eligibility for matchmaking services or the ability to proceed with introductions. Withdrawal of consent will not affect prior introductions already completed. This prevents ambiguity if a client withdraws consent mid-process.

8.1 Client Confidentiality Obligations

In addition to A Lasting Tie's privacy protections for your data, clients have reciprocal confidentiality obligations regarding other clients' information. These obligations are detailed in the Matchmaking Services Agreement and include:

- Protection of other clients' identities and personal information
- Prohibition on sharing match details outside the approved process
- Non-circumvention of A Lasting Tie's introduction procedures
- 24-month confidentiality period from service engagement

Breach of client confidentiality obligations may result in legal action, service termination, and other remedies. These obligations protect all clients' privacy and safety within our matchmaking community.

For complete client confidentiality requirements, please refer to the Matchmaking Services Agreement Section 5.

9. U.S.-Based Processing Only

We only serve clients residing in the United States. All data collection, processing, and storage take place exclusively on U.S.-based platforms.

10. Background Check Disclaimer and Eligibility Standards

As part of our eligibility verification process, A Lasting Tie may require clients to complete a background check conducted by a third-party consumer reporting agency in accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.

Clients are responsible for notifying A Lasting Tie if they initiate a dispute with a third-party background check provider, so that A Lasting Tie can provide documentation or support as needed. A Lasting Tie does not control or guarantee the outcome of third-party reports and is not liable for any inaccuracies.

Important Disclaimers:

A Lasting Tie does not conduct background checks directly
We do not control or guarantee the accuracy of third-party reports
Our "Eligibility Standards" are internal criteria, not certifications of character or safety
Background check results are not shared with potential matches

Payment: Clients pay the third-party provider directly; A Lasting Tie does not charge for this service. Current background check fees are approximately $175.76 (including processing fees), though actual costs may vary based on location and scope of search required. Clients are responsible for all background check costs regardless of final pricing.

Internal Eligibility Standards: A Lasting Tie has established internal standards for client eligibility based on background check results. These standards are our business criteria and do not constitute professional recommendations, legal advice, or character references. Our standards generally require:

No disqualifying criminal convictions within specified timeframes
Valid identity verification
No active legal restrictions or warrants
No listings on relevant registry databases

Important: These are our internal business standards only. Meeting the requirements of our internal standards does not guarantee safety, character, or compatibility.

FCRA-Compliant Process: If background check results may affect eligibility:
Pre-Adverse Action within 5 business days to respond:

Copy of background report provided to you
Summary of FCRA rights provided
5 business days to respond with corrections or context
Opportunity to dispute directly with provider

Final Adverse Action (if applicable):

Written notice of final decision
Second copy of report (if requested)
Provider contact information for disputes
Notice of right to free additional report within 60 days

Use of Information: Background check results are not shared with potential matches and are used solely for eligibility determination.

Accuracy & Liability: A Lasting Tie does not control the accuracy of third-party reports and is not responsible for errors or omissions. Clients agree to hold A Lasting Tie harmless for any consequences arising from background checks or eligibility determinations.

Disputes: Clients may dispute inaccuracies directly with the reporting agency under FCRA guidelines. A Lasting Tie will provide necessary documentation to assist in the dispute but cannot guarantee report accuracy.
Withdrawal of Consent: Refusal or withdrawal of consent for a background check will make a client ineligible for A Lasting Tie services.

10.1 Recording and Consultation Privacy Rights

For complete details regarding consultation recordings, consent procedures, and your rights, please refer to the Matchmaking Services Agreement Section 12. Key privacy rights include:

- Right to refuse recording consent without affecting service eligibility
- Right to withdraw consent before, during, or after consultations
- Right to request deletion of recordings (subject to legal retention requirements)
- Right to understand how recordings are used, stored, and protected
- Right to know the retention schedule for all consultation materials

Consultation materials are retained for 1 year from last activity unless deletion is requested or legal retention is required. All recording activities comply with applicable state and federal privacy laws.

11. Cookies
We do not use cookies for tracking, analytics, or advertising. Any cookies present are strictly functional and necessary to support secure operation of our website.

12. Data Retention & Deletion

Retention Schedules by Data Type:
Client Records (1 year from last activity):

Intake forms and questionnaires
Consultation recordings and transcripts
Photos and preference information
Match records and communication history
Pastoral and personal reference information

Background Check Reports (2 years from completion):

Required for FCRA compliance
Dispute resolution support
Regulatory examination preparation

Financial Records (7 years from transaction):

Payment records and receipts
Tax documentation
Accounting records
Required by federal tax laws

Legal Documentation (Indefinite/As Required):

Signed agreements and consents
Legal correspondence
Dispute-related materials
Regulatory compliance records

Automatic Deletion: At the end of each retention period, data is automatically and permanently deleted using secure deletion protocols that prevent recovery.
Exception for Legal Holds: Data subject to litigation holds, regulatory investigations, or legal preservation orders will be retained until the hold is released.

Deletion Requests: You may request early deletion of personal data by emailing contact@alastingtie.com with "Data Deletion Request" in the subject line. Requests will be processed within 10 business days unless retention is legally required.

Interaction with California Opt-Out Rights: Clients who exercise California "Do Not Sell/Share" opt-out rights will have limited future data sharing, but existing data remains subject to the retention schedules above unless early deletion is specifically requested. Opt-out requests do not automatically trigger data deletion. To request early deletion of personal data in addition to opting out of sharing, submit a separate "Data Deletion Request" as outlined in Section 13.

13. Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, rent, or trade your information with third parties. Your data will only be disclosed:

With your express consent
To complete a matchmaking process (e.g., sharing basic non-identifying info with a match)
If required by law or court order
To prevent fraud or abuse of the service
To pastoral or personal references for verification purposes (with your consent)

14. Confidentiality and Profile Privacy

Clients are expected to maintain relational confidentiality. Information shared in the matchmaking process should not be disclosed outside the context of that process without explicit consent. Additionally, clients control what information is shared with prospective matches, and all introductions are handled with mutual respect and discretion.

15. Your Consent

By submitting information through our forms, participating in consultations, or continuing to use our services, you consent to the collection, use, storage, and potential sharing of your information as described in this Privacy Policy.

16. State-Specific Consumer Notices

California Residents: Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), you have specific rights regarding your personal information as outlined in Section 2 above.

Colorado Residents: Under the Colorado Privacy Act, you have additional rights including:

Right to correct inaccurate personal data
Right to data portability for certain information
Right to opt-out of targeted advertising
Protection against discrimination for exercising privacy rights

New York Residents: This policy is subject to New York General Business Law Article 29-H. You retain all rights under New York consumer protection laws that cannot be waived by contract.

17. Updates to This Policy

This policy may be updated from time to time. You will be notified of any significant changes via the email provided during your initial engagement.

18. Contact Us

For privacy-related questions or concerns, please contact A Lasting Tie's Website Administrator and Privacy Officer at: contact@alastingtie.com. Messages will remain confidential.

For California Privacy Requests: Email: contact@alastingtie.com Subject: "California Privacy Request" Include: Full name, email address, and specific request.