When people enter a divorce, the last thing they typically want is for their business to become public knowledge. It is often important for those involved to keep their privacy, especially if they are going through a high net worth divorce. It is because of this that there are different steps that can be taken to ensure the intimate, private details of such a pivotal moment in a person’s life can stay out of the public eye. Continue reading to learn more and contact an experienced New Jersey divorce attorney for assistance with your case.
Use out of Court Methods
When spouses reach the decision to go through with their divorce, they can begin to work out their marital issues to reach a settlement. If possible, it can benefit the two parties to do so quickly and quietly outside of the court through alternative divorce methods. There are a variety of different ways this can be done, including mediation, collaborative divorce, or arbitration, where spouses use other parties to help guide them towards reaching amicable decisions. When this happens and agreements are made, they can then go through the formal process of filing divorce paperwork and submitting their settlement to the court for approval. Public records do not include and privately agreed upon terms.
Put Temporary Agreements in Place
Attorneys and spouses can work together in order to put temporary agreements in place. These can protect both spouses’ interests by agreeing to certain ground rules before they begin the divorce. Examples of this can include freezing access to marital assets until final decisions can be made regarding them during the proceedings, temporary custody arrangements for children, etc. By taking care of these matters outside of the courtroom, they do not become public record.
Use Your Prenup
A prenuptial agreement (“prenup”) is a document that is drafted and signed before a marriage is official, detailing how the couple intends to divide their assets in the event that they divorce in the future. This can be very important in situations such as these, as it can lay out exactly how the couple will settle their divorce so that it can be done as quickly and quietly as possible. Sometimes, this document can even include privacy causes, ensuring neither party speaks out regarding their marriage and divorce.
Consider Grounds for Divorce When Filing
When spouses file for divorce, they are required to cite “grounds” for why they are divorcing their spouse. This includes fault and no-fault grounds. It is important to consider your options carefully when filing, as these are a matter of public court records. It is because of this that if spouses choose to cite fault grounds for reasons of adultery, abandonment, habits of intoxication, abuse, desertion, and more, it can become public knowledge. Spouses may wish to cite no-fault grounds instead and claim their divorce was due to “irreconcilable differences.”
Contact our Firm
If you require strong legal representation for matters of divorce and family law in New Jersey, contact The Law Offices of Paone, Zaleski & Murphy to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced attorneys today.
