After making the difficult decision to divorce, many are concerned about protecting their privacy given that many issues in a divorce are a matter of public record. In fact, Wisconsin is one of a few states that allow full access to divorce records, which often includes details regarding anything form marital asset division to child custody, while excluding sensitive data such as social security numbers or minor child information.
Anyone from a business owner to a prominent figure in the community is vulnerable to prying eyes in a Wisconsin divorce so it is important to combat threats to privacy proactively by enlisting the help of an attorney to establish a privacy plan. Fortunately there are a number of strategies to protect sensitive information in a divorce:
- Assuming there is no prenuptial agreement addressing privacy concerns, it may be advisable to enter into a post nuptial agreement that includes a confidentiality agreement in the event of a divorce.
- Although your divorce is public record, it is possible to request that the court seal portions of the divorce record if a party can prove they will be harmed by public release.
- A trust can be set up to keep assets separate and information about them private if the divorcing parties agree
- Confidentiality agreements may be requested of those involved in the divorce – accountants, counselors etc. – barring them from sharing information.
- Digital privacy can be secured using encrypted emails and/or setting up a dedicated account for divorce related communications, changing passwords regularly or setting up two factor id for accounts accessed online, and generally limiting electronic communications to include social media engagement.
Protect Your Privacy in Your Divorce
When you are considering divorce, it is important to discuss your privacy concerns with an experienced family law attorney. Contact Wisconsin and Illinois family law attorney Jane Probst for immediate assistance at 414-210-3135.