Maintaining your privacy during your divorce can make the process much easier. Some of the best ways to help ensure you have a private divorce include:
File for a no-fault divorce
One of the first things to consider when it comes to filing for divorce is the grounds on which you will file. Grounds refer to the legal reason that your divorce is occurring. In Massachusetts, you can file on the following fault grounds:
- Desertion
- Cruel and abusive treatment
- Non-support
- Imprisonment of 5 years or more
- Adultery
- Gross and confirmed habits of intoxication
- Impotence
However, it is important to know that you can also file for a no-fault divorce on the premise of “an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage.” This simply means that your marriage no longer works and is beyond repair. This is important to consider because grounds for a divorce can become a matter of public record. As a result, filing on the grounds of an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage may afford you more privacy than citing a specific fault ground. Additionally, if you cite a specific fault ground, you may have to provide proof. For example, if you cite grounds of adultery, you may need to provide proof of an affair.
Settle your divorce outside of court
One of the best ways to maintain your privacy is by settling your divorce outside of court. Some out-of-court methods include:
Mediation- This process takes place outside of the court. It involves the couple working with a neutral third party to help settle the matters of their divorce. It is important to note that the process of mediation is strictly confidential. Neither spouse nor the third party is allowed to share any information in mediation or use it against one another.
Arbitration- This process is very similar to mediation, in that it involves a neutral third party helping the couple work through their divorce. However, in this case, the third party acts as a judge and can make legal decisions on behalf of the couple.
Collaborative divorce- This type of divorce involves each party obtaining his or her own attorney. Then, the couple and their attorneys will all work together to find unique solutions to the matters at hand.
Out-of-court divorces are more private because decisions that are made through the court can become a matter of public record.
Contact our experienced Bristol County firm
If you need help through a contested divorce or with any other family law matter, contact The Law Offices of Cynthia L. Hanley, P.C. for a consultation today.
