You may have read about high-profile celebrities divorcing recently. Jeff and MacKenzie Bezos and Bill and Melinda Gates were in the news regarding their very expensive divorces, but not a lot of information was made public. New York couple David and Libbie Mugrabi’s divorce made headlines for years – and continues to make headlines even after the marriage was ended. Recently, Kanye West is very publicly sharing the details of his divorce from Kim Kardashian and their child custody issues. The public loves to hear the juicy details of a divorce and wants to know who leaves the marriage with goodies. But what if you want to keep the details of your divorce private?

People often get emotional when going through a divorce – and even irrational. Besides ending the marriage, you have to decide what you will leave with and what you deserve in the future – for both you and your children. And when a divorce is the result of bad behavior by one party that could hurt the children, a business or their reputation, couples often want to keep the details of their divorce private.

If you already have a prenuptial agreement in place, the divorce may be easier to negotiate since prior to your marriage you established the foundation of what will happen if you choose to divorce. A divorce can happen quietly through private mediation, where the divorcing spouses want a quick, cooperative end to their marriage, or publicly through litigation in court. If you want to keep the details of your divorce private and confidential between you and your spouse, read down.

How To Keep Your Divorce Private in New Jersey

Divorce Mediation

According to Harvard Law School: “The goal of mediation is for a neutral third party to help disputants come to a consensus on their own.” If you believe that you and your spouse can agree upon the details of a divorce, then mediation may work best for you.

There are advantages to hiring a family law mediation attorney to mediate your divorce:

  • Save Time and Money

There is no costly discovery when you and your spouse are willing to show all assets, property and debt. There are no arguments to draw out the divorce process with mediation and no expensive court battles. Complex litigation can cost vast amounts of money and take years to settle.

  • Privacy

When you’re prominent in society, have a high net worth or a high profile job, or are a public figure, filing for divorce can become big news. Being a public figure keeps you in the spotlight. How do you keep your privacy and protect your family when just the announcement of the end of your marriage makes headlines? Choosing mediation is a way to navigate a divorce without it becoming a public circus.

  • You Are In Control of the Outcome

Working with a mediator means that you and your soon-to-be-ex are in control of the outcome of your divorce. You decide the final details of the divorce. With litigation, the judge tells you how all assets will be distributed and how your child custody agreement will look – and you must both abide by the court’s decision.

While mediation is often the easiest way to keep your divorce private, it is not always possible. Some couples simply cannot agree on the conditions of their divorce, and litigation may be the best alternative.

When You Need Divorce Litigation

Litigation becomes necessary when you and your spouse cannot agree on the terms of your divorce. It can become costly, messy and very public. The courts are funded by the public, and divorce litigation is by law a matter of public record and court cases must be conducted in open court.

Despite the loss of privacy, there are times when you may want to settle your divorce in court. You may need the judge and a divorce litigation attorney to protect your interests.

You may want litigation if your spouse:

  • Is an unfit parent
  • Is violent or abusive
  • Concealed or undervalued assets
  • Is pressing you to accept unfair terms

Seal the Record of Your Divorce

High profile, high net worth couples going through divorce litigation may not want the details of their divorce made public. Divorce court records are open to the public in New Jersey except in situations where there are laws governing confidentiality, such as adoption or sexual crimes. If you are going through divorce litigation and want to keep your divorce private, your divorce attorney can petition the New Jersey Family Law Court for your divorce record to be sealed. In order for the divorce record to be sealed, the petitioner must demonstrate there is a ‘good cause’ to seal the records and that the damage suffered if the records are made public outweighs the need to keep them public.

While litigation may be tough to go through, it can work to your advantage if you have a New Jersey divorce attorney that will protect your rights and aggressively fight for what is rightly yours, including your right to privacy.

Protect What Matters: Contact Our New Jersey Family Law Attorneys

With experience in both divorce litigation and family law mediation, the New Jersey divorce attorneys at Stolfe Zeigler are ready to help you find the solution that works for your unique situation. We understand that every family is different and has different priorities, and we take the time to understand every detail of your circumstances and advise and guide you on the best way to end your marriage and protect your privacy.

Our Toms River and Moorestown family law attorneys go above and beyond to provide compassionate guidance and assertive representation you can rely on. When you need a family law attorney, turn to New Jersey Family Law Group.

Contact our attorneys at Stolfe Zeigler today at (732) 240-9555 to get started with an initial case evaluation.

#ProtectWhatMattersMost