If you and your spouse have come to the realization that you need to file for divorce, then you know how difficult this process may be. Even in the very best circumstances, divorce can be an emotional process, and it can draw some unwanted attention from both your professional and personal communities. This is especially the situation if your divorce is complicated.
The more complicated the assets are that are involved in a divorce, the more important that privacy is going to be – especially if the way that the divorce ends will affect many different people. The good news is, there are some steps you can take to help protect your privacy during a high-asset divorce; however, you need to understand what your specific goals are as you move into the actual divorce process.
If you want to keep your divorce a quiet and calm process, then you need to hire an attorney. They will help with keeping things private while protecting your interests. They can also help you avoid the most common mistakes seen in these situations.
Requesting the Divorce Records be Sealed by the Court
If you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse have to appear in court during the divorce process, then you need to make sure that you understand how this may impact your hopes for a divorce that is private. In many cases, appearances you make in divorce court will become public record due to the documentation that is created.
If you want to make sure that information about your divorce doesn’t get out, then you can request that the court seals the records that apply to certain aspects of the divorce. You may be able to keep your personal information about minors out of public records, but there is other information that may still be disclosed. The fact is, it is not very common for all court documents to be kept from the public record. The key is to justify the information you want to be sealed so that the court will agree to do this.
If you want to keep things out of the public eye, then just sealing the records may not be enough. You may have to collaborate with our ex-spouse to make sure that you both fully understand that proper behavior and conversation in public is also required.
Confidentiality and Mediation During a Divorce
If you and your ex-spouse can manage it, then it may be a good idea to use mediation to help negotiate the terms of your divorce. With mediation, you can work with one another and a neutral mediator to achieve an outcome that is fair for both parties. Keep in mind, the agreements in mediation are legally binding, which means it won’t be necessary for you to go to court.
Another advantage offered by mediation is that these sessions are completely confidential. As a result, you can keep everything that is discussed private and may find that the setting allows you to approach the divorce process with dignity and civility.
If you are going through a high asset divorce, and want to keep things as private as possible, make sure to find the right attorney for the job to ensure the desired outcome is achieved. They will be able to help you with this each step of the way.
To learn more about what you need to do to ensure your privacy is protected while going through a divorce, visit the Lawyers Corner blog.
