What is a legal confidential relationship?

Asked by: Santiago Nader  |  Last update: November 6, 2025
Score: 4.1/5 (60 votes)

A confidential relationship is a special connection between two or more people where they have a duty to keep certain information private. This can be established by a formal agreement or implied when one person knows that the information is confidential and the other person believes that it should be kept secret.

What constitutes a confidential relationship?

What is a confidential relationship? Legally, taking care of an elderly or vulnerable person can create a “confidential relationship,” which exists between two people when one enjoys the confidence and trust of the other, and purports to act on the trusting party's behalf, without any self-interest.

What makes something legally confidential?

1.2 “Confidential Information” means information furnished by the disclosing party, whether orally, in writing, electronically, in other tangible form or format, or through or by observation, and identified as confidential or proprietary, or otherwise disclosed in a manner such that a reasonable person would understand ...

What is the legal definition of confidential information?

“Confidential Information” means confidential, non-public, or proprietary information, whether or not marked as such, that has been or is disclosed or made available by a Party or its Affiliates [including its or their employees, agents and representatives] to the other Party or its Affiliates [including its or their ...

What is the legal definition of a fiduciary relationship?

A relationship in which one party (the fiduciary) is placed in a position of trust and confidence in relation to another party and acts on their behalf or in their interests in some respect.

Difference Between Attorney-Client Privilege & Confidentiality : Legal Advice & Law Information

36 related questions found

What are the requirements for a fiduciary relationship?

This means they must act under their clients' best interests. Fiduciary duties tend to fall under two main categories: Duty of loyalty. This requires fiduciaries to prioritize the interests of their clients before their own, avoiding potential conflicts of interest that may impact their ability to make good decisions.

What is an example of a fiduciary relationship?

Fiduciaries must act in the beneficiaries' best interest. Relationships such as lawyer and client, doctor and patient, investment advisor and client, trustee and beneficiary, director and corporation are fiduciary in nature.

What information is not confidential?

Information already in the public domain. Information known prior to its disclosure. Information independently developed without breach. Information obtained from another source legally entitled to disclose it.

What is a NDA in a relationship?

What is an NDA? NDAs, or non-disclosure agreements, are legally enforceable contracts that create a confidential relationship between a person who has sensitive information and a person who will gain access to that information.

What are 5 examples of confidentiality?

The following information is confidential:
  • Social Security number.
  • Name.
  • Personal financial information.
  • Family information.
  • Medical information.
  • Credit card numbers, bank account numbers, amount / what donated.
  • Telephone / fax numbers, e-mail, URLs.

What type of information would not be considered confidential?

Non-Confidential Information means information which: (i) is, as of the time of its disclosure or thereafter becomes part of the public domain through no fault of the receiving party; (ii) can be demonstrated by credible evidence: (a) as rightfully known to the receiving party prior to the time of its disclosure, or (b ...

What violates confidentiality?

A classic example of a breach of confidentiality is mistakenly sending Client A an email that was meant for Client B. In this instance, you've shared Client B's sensitive information with a third party without their consent. This could either be by you as the business owner or one of your employees.

What does legally privileged confidential mean?

Legal professional privilege (LPP) protects certain confidential communications from disclosure without your client's permission. LPP is a right not of lawyers but of clients.

What makes something confidential?

Confidential information is personal information shared with only a few people for a designated purpose. The person who is receiving the information from you, the receiver, generally cannot take advantage and use your information for their personal gain, such as giving the information out to unauthorized third parties.

Is marriage a confidential relationship?

This confidential relationship imposes a duty of the highest good faith and fair dealing on each spouse, and neither shall take any unfair advantage of the other.

What is not confidential?

Non-Confidential Information means information that falls under any of these categories: it becomes part of the public domain through no fault of the party receiving the information; it was rightly known to the receiving party before its disclosure; it was independently developed by the receiving party; it is learned ...

Do NDAs hold up in court?

NDAs are valuable legal tools, but their enforceability hinges on careful drafting and adherence to legal principles. To ensure your NDA holds up in court, be sure it is clear, reasonable, and serves a legitimate business purpose.

What are the exclusions of confidential information?

Confidential Information shall not include any information that: (a) is already known to the Receiving Party at the time of disclosure, as shown by the Receiving Party's records ; (b) is, through no act or failure to act of the Receiving Party, becomes publicly known; (c) is received by the Receiving Party from a third ...

What is the difference between a confidential agreement and an NDA?

NDA vs confidentiality agreement: What is the difference? A confidentiality agreement binds all parties to keep secret information confidential, while an NDA upholds secrecy by creating a confidential relationship between the parties who sign it.

When you talk to a lawyer, is it confidential?

Communications between your attorney and you are confidential unless you want your attorney to share the information. “Communications” include email, phone calls, and in-person conversations. When you go to court, a hearing, or a deposition, for example, your lawyer might be asked for information about your case.

What information is considered private and confidential?

The CPRA defines sensitive information as:

Social security number, driver's license/ID card, passport number. Geolocation. Race/ethnicity, religion, philosophies, union membership. Financial account numbers, access codes, passwords, and more.

What is the law of confidential information?

The general position is that if information is given in circumstances where it is expected that a duty of confidence applies, that information cannot normally be disclosed without the information provider's consent.

What is fiduciary misconduct?

The sad reality is that many fiduciaries improperly use their power for personal gain or other unethical reasons instead of using it to make decisions that benefit the persons they represent. When they breach their duties in this way, it is considered fiduciary misconduct.

What happens when your client asks you to do something that's against the law?

Explanation: When a client asks you to do something that is against the law, you must not break the law. According to professional ethics and legal obligations, neither the duty of obedience nor client loyalty extends to engaging in illegal acts.

What is an example of a breach of duty of loyalty?

A breach of the duty of loyalty occurs when an employee or director uses the business to further his personal interests. For example, an employee might breach his duty of loyalty by using confidential information for his own purposes. This is known as an " interested director transaction ".