VIRGINIA’S PREMIERE BANKRUPTCY LAW FIRM • VIRGINIA BEACH • RICHMOND • NEWPORT NEWS • 1-800-662-8813
Cookie Policy
Last updated: September 13, 2026
This Cookie Policy explains how The Merna Law Group, P.C., doing business as Merna Law (“Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our”), uses cookies and similar technologies to recognize you when you visit our website at https://mernalaw.com (the “Website”). It explains what these technologies are, why we use them, and your rights to control our use of them.
In some cases we may use cookies to collect personal information, or information that becomes personal information if we combine it with other information.
This Cookie Policy should be read together with our Terms of Use, Disclaimer, and Bankruptcy Disclosures.
What are cookies?
Cookies are small data files placed on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work, to make them work more efficiently, and to provide reporting information.
Cookies set by the website owner — in this case, Merna Law — are called “first party cookies.” Cookies set by anyone other than the website owner are called “third party cookies.” Third party cookies enable features provided by others, such as analytics or embedded content. The parties that set them can recognize your computer both when it visits this website and when it visits certain other websites.
We also use similar technologies that are not technically cookies, including browser local storage, which stores information in your browser rather than in a cookie file.
Why do we use cookies?
Some cookies are required for technical reasons in order for our Website to operate; we refer to these as “essential” or “strictly necessary” cookies. Others help us understand how our Website is used so that we can improve it.
We do not use cookies to serve targeted advertising on this Website, and we do not sell personal information.
The cookies we use
Essential cookies
Strictly necessary for the Website to function and to protect it from automated abuse. These cannot be turned off.
| Name | Purpose | Provider | Type | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
__cf_bm | Bot detection and traffic filtering | Cloudflare | Server cookie | 30 minutes |
PHPSESSID | Maintains your session while you complete an online form | Formstack | Server cookie | End of session |
Analytics cookies
Help us understand, in aggregate, how visitors find and use the Website. We use Google Analytics for this purpose.
| Name | Purpose | Type | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|
_ga | Distinguishes one visitor from another | Cookie | About 13 months |
_ga_# | Maintains session state for Google Analytics | Cookie | About 13 months |
_gid | Distinguishes visitors for short-term statistics | Cookie | 1 day |
_gat# | Limits the rate of requests sent to Google Analytics | Cookie | 1 minute |
__utma | Identifies visitors and sessions (legacy) | Cookie | About 13 months |
__utmb | Distinguishes new sessions and visits (legacy) | Cookie | 29 minutes |
__utmt | Limits the rate of requests to Google Analytics (legacy) | Cookie | 9 minutes |
__utmv | Legacy Google Analytics identifier | Cookie | End of session |
__utmz | Records how you arrived at the Website, such as a search or a link | Cookie | About 6 months |
#_utm.gif | Tracking pixel used by Google Analytics; active only during your visit | Pixel | End of session |
Form functionality storage
Our intake and evaluation forms are hosted by Formstack. The entries below are stored in your browser’s local storage rather than as cookies, and record which of our forms you have opened so that a form behaves correctly if you return to it.
| Name | Purpose | Provider | Type | Expires |
|---|---|---|---|---|
formstack.analytics.viewed-form:6506510 | Records that you opened our financial evaluation form | Formstack | Local storage | Persists until cleared |
formstack.analytics.viewed-form:6468754 | Records that you opened one of our intake forms | Formstack | Local storage | Persists until cleared |
Browser cookie controls do not clear local storage. You can clear it through your browser’s settings, in the same area where you clear cookies and site data.
Other tracking technologies
Cookies are not the only way to recognize visitors. We may use similar technologies such as web beacons — sometimes called tracking pixels or clear gifs. These are small graphics files containing a unique identifier that let us recognize when someone has visited our Website or opened an email from us.
This helps us understand traffic patterns between pages, improve site performance, and measure whether our emails are reaching people. Most of these technologies rely on cookies, so declining cookies will limit how they work.
How can I control cookies?
You have the right to decide whether to accept or reject cookies.
Cookie settings. You can set your preferences using the cookie banner on our Website, or the cookie settings link available on our pages. You may choose which categories of cookies to accept or reject. Essential cookies cannot be rejected, because the Website cannot function without them.
If you reject non-essential cookies you can still use our Website, though some functionality may be limited.
Browser controls. You can also set your browser to accept or refuse cookies. The method varies by browser:
Google Analytics. You can opt out of Google Analytics on any website by installing Google’s browser add-on at https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
Advertising networks. Although we do not serve targeted advertising on this Website, you can opt out of targeted advertising generally at the Digital Advertising Alliance or Your Online Choices.
Live chat, forms, and confidential information
Please do not use live chat or any form on our Website to send confidential, sensitive, or time-sensitive information.
Information submitted through our Website is not confidential, is not protected by the attorney-client privilege, and submitting it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Our intake and evaluation forms are hosted by a third-party provider that processes the information on our behalf.
If you have an urgent matter — a scheduled foreclosure sale, an active garnishment, a hearing date, or a pending repossession — call 1-800-662-8813. Do not rely on a web form, chat, or email.
Requests about your information
Regardless of whether any particular privacy law applies to us, we will honor the following requests from any visitor:
- Ask what personal information we hold about you, and get a copy of it
- Ask us to correct information that is inaccurate
- Ask us to delete information we are not required to keep
- Ask us to stop using analytics or similar technologies in connection with your visits
Some information cannot be deleted. We are required to retain client files and certain records under our professional obligations and applicable law, and information submitted in connection with a bankruptcy matter may need to be preserved.
To make a request, email jmerna@mernalaw.com or call 1-800-662-8813. We will respond within a reasonable time, generally within 45 days. We may need to verify your identity before acting on a request. If we decline a request, we will tell you why, and you may ask us to reconsider by replying to our response.
Updates to this Cookie Policy
We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes to the cookies we use, or for operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. The date at the top indicates when it was last updated. Please revisit this page periodically.
Contact us
If you have questions about our use of cookies or other technologies, contact us at:
The Merna Law Group, P.C. 621 North Lynnhaven Road Virginia Beach, VA 23452 Phone: 1-800-662-8813 Email: jmerna@mernalaw.com