Confidentiality is a major concern for those filing for divorce and for a good reason. A lot of personal information will be exchanged between various parties as your divorce is worked out and discovery is exchanged.
Discovery is the documents and information you exchange with the other party to the divorce, or more likely their attorney, prior to trial. This will include many records and documents that contain personal information. Your social security numbers, financial information and even health care records may be submitted and reviewed by attorneys, judges and/or mediators, along with their support staff.
While those working in the field of law are held to the highest standards of confidentiality, family law in particular, most divorce records are still publicly available. Ask your attorney what privacy practices they engage in. A reputable family law attorney will have a system of keeping track of and protecting client information. Similarly, files should be properly maintained to ensure copies of important documents don’t go missing or are duplicated and that, at any given time, your information is well accounted for. Reputable firms will also take precautions such as making digital copies of all files and keeping them password protected on secure servers.
Another way your personal information can be protected during a divorce is through a simple process called redaction. Redaction is essentially obscuring certain protected pieces of information in divorce paperwork that will be public record or that would not be advantageous to your case.
For example, if you must submit financial information, all but the last four digits of your bank account numbers can be marked out. Some documents can be sealed, meaning they are submitted under a sealed cover and are not viewable by the public.
Only certain divorce forms and records are eligible to be filed under a sealed cover, generally financial and medical records along with records pertaining to a minor child. Speak to your attorney about how they can keep your personal information protected during a divorce. While you may have to provide personal information you would rather not, there are many family law practices skilled attorneys engage in to protect that information.
Are you in the Los Angeles area and have questions about how your personal information is protected during the divorce process? Certified Family Law Specialist Steven Fernandez has experience representing high net-worth and high profile individuals in Los Angeles County. Serving Los Angeles and surrounding areas, California family law attorney Steven Fernandez offers secure and tenacious legal counsel. Call our office at 310-622-9434; email us at intake@cfli.com or contact us through our online form today to schedule a free consultation.