Your Divorce, Public Record

Often times couples are distraught to learn that everything they file, and everything that is said in the Courtroom is public record unless those proceedings are sealed by the Court. If one party does not wish to have the proceedings sealed, it will take a hearing and a Court order to seal a case. Often times, one party wants the divorce proceeding to be sealed, while the other party wishes for the information to be public. This could be for leverage in the event someone had an affair, has a drug or gambling problem, or has been financially irresponsible and doesn't want the IRS to find out what has been going on. While I believe that some court proceedings should not be privy to the public, I feel unless the issue is properly before and decided by the Court, all matters should be public.