How a matter runs

Data in. Evidence out.

Every notification follows the same audited path — whether it's 500 records or 250,000. Here is exactly what happens, who does what, and how fast.

Step 01

Engage

You

Open a matter by phone or through the intake form: matter name, estimated record count, jurisdictions, and deadline.

NotifyCertain

Acknowledge, assign a matter number, and provision secure intake. Firms with a standing MSA/BAA skip straight to secure intake.

Acknowledged within 2 business hours · same-day for emergency
Step 02

Secure intake

You

Upload the recipient file through the encrypted portal or SFTP, and provide the counsel-approved letter language and any variable content.

NotifyCertain

Receive data under SOC 2 controls — encrypted in transit and at rest, access logged, scoped to the matter.

Immediate on receipt
Step 03

Address hygiene

You

Review the exception report and approve, supplement, or suppress flagged records.

NotifyCertain

Run CASS/NCOA processing, de-duplication, deceased suppression, and foreign-address split-out. Return a clear exception report.

Report back within hours of a complete file
Step 04

Compose & proof

You

Review composed samples and give written proof approval — the point at which production is authorized.

NotifyCertain

Compose the notice in-house, including multi-population versions (for example, SSN-exposed vs. non-SSN), at a 6th–8th grade reading level, and deliver proofs.

Proofs: 24 hrs standard · 12 hrs expedited · same day emergency
Step 05

Print & insert

You

Nothing required — production runs against the approved proof.

NotifyCertain

Print, insert, and prepare mail across two facilities with camera-verified inserting for piece integrity.

Weekend production available on the emergency tier
Step 06

Mail

You

Choose the mailing class up front: First-Class, Certified, or Certified with Electronic Return Receipt.

NotifyCertain

Deposit with USPS and capture acceptance documentation at the point of mailing.

Mail date: 5 business days · 72 hrs · 48 hrs by tier
Step 07

Evidence & return mail

You

Download the evidence package. Approve any re-mail of corrected addresses.

NotifyCertain

Deliver the affidavit of mailing, manifest, and USPS acceptance records. Log returned pieces, re-lookup via NCOA, and report — over a 60–90 day window.

Evidence package delivered at mailing · return mail runs 60–90 days

See the evidence package

A sample affidavit of mailing and manifest — the documentation your regulators and litigation will ask for. This is what closes every matter.

Request a sample
Common questions

Before you send the first file

Who writes the notification letter?

Counsel does. We compose, format, and produce the letter from the language you approve. We provide production and mailing services only and do not provide legal advice or opine on the legal sufficiency of the content.

What is the minimum matter size?

There is no hard floor, though very small matters are governed by a matter minimum since setup effort is similar regardless of count. We regularly handle matters from a few hundred to 250,000+ records.

How do you handle multiple affected populations?

In-house composition produces distinct letter versions per population — for example, individuals whose Social Security numbers were involved versus those whose were not — from a single data file with the appropriate field mapping.

What about foreign or undeliverable addresses?

Foreign addresses are split out and quoted separately. Undeliverable-as-addressed records surface in the exception report before production, so nothing is mailed blind.

What happens to returned mail?

Returned pieces are received, scanned, and logged. Where a valid updated address is found via NCOA re-lookup, we can re-mail on your approval. A final undeliverable report closes the matter.

How do we start faster next time?

Put a standing MSA and BAA in place before an incident. When the next matter opens, you skip engagement paperwork and go straight to secure intake — critical when the clock is already running.

Have a matter? Start now.

Acknowledged within 2 business hours. Emergency matters: call.