Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Mueller Forensics ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website muellerforensics.com and use our services.

As a professional forensic accounting firm, we are subject to ethical standards established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and South Carolina Board of Accountancy. We maintain the highest standards of confidentiality and data protection in accordance with professional standards and applicable laws.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information You Provide

When you contact us through our website, we collect the following information:

• Name: Your full name as provided in the contact form
• Email Address: Your email address for communication purposes
• Phone Number: Your telephone number to facilitate contact
• Service Interest: The type of forensic accounting service you're inquiring about
• Message Content: Any information you choose to include in your inquiry

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain technical information:

• IP Address: Your internet protocol address for security and analytics
• Browser Information: User agent data including browser type and version
• Referrer Information: The website that referred you to our site
• Page URL: The specific page from which you submitted a form
• Timestamp: Date and time of your visit and form submission
• Device Information: Type of device used to access our website

2.3 Third-Party Services

Our website uses the following third-party services that may collect information:

• Google Fonts: For typography (may collect usage data)
• Cloudflare: For content delivery and DDoS protection
• n8n (via Railway): For form data processing and workflow automation

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Client Communication: To respond to your inquiries and schedule consultations
• Service Delivery: To provide forensic accounting services you request
• Professional Engagement: To evaluate potential conflicts of interest and engagement acceptance
• Quality Improvement: To improve our website functionality and user experience
• Security: To protect against fraud, unauthorized access, and other security issues
• Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, and professional standards
• Analytics: To understand website usage patterns and improve our services

4. Data Storage and Security

4.1 Where Your Data is Stored

Your information is processed and stored in the following locations:

• n8n Workflow Platform: Hosted on Railway (cloud infrastructure)
• Email Systems: Forwarded to our secure email servers
• Cloudflare CDN: Website content delivery and caching
• United States: All data is stored in servers located within the United States

4.2 Security Measures

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information:

• Encryption: All data transmission uses HTTPS/TLS encryption
• Access Controls: Limited access to personal information on a need-to-know basis
• Secure Infrastructure: Hosting on secure, professional-grade platforms
• Regular Updates: Ongoing security patches and system updates
• Professional Standards: Compliance with AICPA confidentiality requirements

While we strive to protect your personal information, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but are committed to using commercially reasonable means to protect your data.

5. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for the following periods:

• Inquiry Data: Contact form submissions are retained for up to 2 years for potential client relationship purposes
• Client Records: If you become a client, records are retained according to professional standards (typically 7 years after engagement completion)
• Legal Requirements: Data may be retained longer if required by law or legal proceedings
• Deletion Requests: Data is deleted within 30 days of a valid deletion request, unless retention is legally required

6. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information. We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:

• Service Providers: With trusted third-party service providers (Railway/n8n, email services) who assist in operating our website and business
• Legal Requirements: When required by law, subpoena, or legal process
• Professional Obligations: As required by professional standards or regulatory authorities
• Business Transfers: In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets (with notification)
• Consent: With your explicit consent for any other purpose

All third-party service providers are contractually obligated to maintain confidentiality and security of your information and may only use it for the specific purposes we authorize.

7. Your Privacy Rights

7.1 General Rights

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal requirements)
• Portability: Request a copy of your data in a structured, commonly used format
• Objection: Object to processing of your personal information for certain purposes
• Restriction: Request restriction of processing in certain circumstances
• Withdrawal of Consent: Withdraw consent at any time (without affecting lawfulness of prior processing)

7.2 GDPR Rights (European Residents)

If you are a resident of the European Economic Area (EEA), you have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

• Right to be informed about data collection and use
• Right to access your personal data
• Right to rectification of inaccurate data
• Right to erasure ("right to be forgotten")
• Right to restrict processing
• Right to data portability
• Right to object to processing
• Rights related to automated decision-making and profiling
• Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority

7.3 CCPA Rights (California Residents)

If you are a California resident, you have rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

• Right to Know: Request disclosure of personal information collected, used, disclosed, or sold
• Right to Delete: Request deletion of your personal information
• Right to Opt-Out: Opt-out of the sale of personal information (Note: We do not sell personal information)
• Right to Non-Discrimination: Not be discriminated against for exercising your privacy rights

7.4 South Carolina Residents

As a South Carolina-based firm, we comply with all applicable South Carolina privacy laws and regulations.

7.5 How to Exercise Your Rights

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at:

We will respond to your request within 30 days. We may need to verify your identity before processing your request.

8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

Our website currently uses minimal tracking technologies:

• Essential Cookies: We do not currently use cookies on our website
• Third-Party Services: Google Fonts and Cloudflare may use their own cookies or similar technologies
• Analytics: We may implement analytics in the future with appropriate notice and consent mechanisms

Most web browsers automatically accept cookies, but you can modify your browser settings to decline cookies if you prefer. This may prevent you from taking full advantage of our website.

9. Children's Privacy

Our website and services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If you become aware that a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately, and we will take steps to delete such information.

10. Do Not Track Signals

Some web browsers have a "Do Not Track" feature that lets you tell websites you do not want to have your online activities tracked. Our website does not currently respond to Do Not Track signals, as there is no uniform standard for how such signals should be interpreted.

11. International Users

Our website is hosted in the United States and is intended for users located in the United States. If you are accessing our website from outside the United States, please be aware that:

• Your information will be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States
• U.S. data protection laws may differ from those in your country
• By using our website, you consent to transfer of your information to the United States
• We comply with GDPR requirements for EEA residents

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of any material changes by:

• Posting the updated Privacy Policy on this page
• Updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
• Providing notice on our website homepage for significant changes
• Sending email notification for material changes (if we have your email address)

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically. Your continued use of our website after any changes indicates your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

We are committed to resolving any privacy concerns you may have. We will respond to all inquiries within 2 business days.

14. Professional Standards Compliance

As a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and forensic accounting professional, we adhere to:

• AICPA Code of Professional Conduct: Including confidentiality and data protection requirements
• South Carolina Board of Accountancy Regulations: State-specific professional standards
• Sarbanes-Oxley Act: Where applicable to our services
• NACVA Standards: National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts guidelines
• Attorney-Client Privilege: When applicable to litigation support services

These professional standards impose heightened confidentiality and data protection obligations that often exceed general privacy law requirements.

15. Consent

By using our website and submitting information through our contact form, you consent to the collection, use, and processing of your information as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this Privacy Policy, please do not use our website or provide us with your personal information.