In Florida, divorces are a matter of public record.
Basically, this means if a person, including a member of the press, a business competitor or just someone who is curious, wants to make the effort to go and examine the records of a divorce, they can do so.
The records include transcripts, exhibits and other detailed financial and personal information.
These records can touch on sensitive matters related to the cause of the divorce. Unfortunately, sometimes divorce proceedings involve the airing of a couple’s dirty laundry, and all of that information could be recorded in the official proceedings and open for review.
Under Florida law, a Pasco County resident can request the court seal all or part of their divorce case so that the public does not have access to it.
However, to do this, a person will have to file a proper request and explain why their records should be sealed.
They should keep in mind that they are asking for an exception. This state’s practice is that the public should be able to find out what is going on in their state’s courts.
Keeping a divorce private is a good reason to consider mediation
Many couples, especially if they are professionals, executives or have a prominent role in the community, will want to keep the personal and financial details of their lives out of the public eye.
Likewise, business owners should remember that dividing property in a divorce may involve having to present evidence in court about their business’s operations. For business reasons, owners may not want this information available at the local courthouse.
One advantage to divorce mediation is that it can allow couples some measure of privacy. Although some information about their divorce will still be public, mediation can be very effective in keeping sensitive personal and financial details private since it is a confidential process that happens outside of court.
While mediation is not the right solution for every case, those who are concerned about privacy should consider it as a divorce alternative.