Marriage and divorce are very public events broadcasting issues of a very private nature. While we welcome friends and family to celebrate our marriage vows, we don’t necessarily want them peering behind the curtains around the bed or interfering in our day-to-day life decisions. By the same token, divorce requires ratification by a judge in a public forum, but the messy details of the process of reaching a settlement are not always something we are comfortable sharing.
One of the bedrock principles of the American legal system is attorney/client privilege. In many respects, the relationship between a divorce lawyer and her client may often require discussions of a personal and intimate nature. Sadly, the opposing lawyer has no such obligation to you. In filing the divorce suit, which is a public document, your spouse and his or her attorney may make hurtful and embarrassing personal allegations and revelations, whether about your supposed sexual preferences, financial improprieties, or abusive behavior toward another member of the household.
Defending against untrue and unfair allegations can take a serious toll on your mental equilibrium and your reputation, even if you are largely successful.
Another aspect of privacy that has come under great scrutiny in recent years is the use of media, including social media, to disparage or harm the personal and business interests of the opposing party. Sometimes we might think it is a good way to get easy revenge or have a little fun to post salacious rumors on Facebook. It costs nothing, but everybody in your friend and family circle is put on notice that you have been married to a monster and you’re not going to put up with it anymore. While this may feel good in the moment, it often comes back to bite you later.
Many people spy on their spouses in an attempt to catch them in an act that violates their marriage vows or other social responsibilities. Methods range from hacking computers to rummaging through financial record files to hiring private investigators to follow your spouse’s car as soon as he or she leaves the office every day. When is such action prudent, and when is it over the line?
Privacy is a major factor driving the popularity of divorce mediation services. Negotiations and document examinations are conducted in an attorney’s conference room, far from the prying eyes of court reporters and business rivals.
Whether you prefer a media circus or an amicable closed-door mediation process, good legal advice usually makes the critical difference between success and failure in achieving a successful divorce settlement. Your attorney can help you decide how to temper your social media posts, when and how to use lawful surveillance methods, and how to defend yourself against someone hell-bent on destroying your reputation as well as dissolving your marriage.
Hirsch Legal, LLC serves clients in New Haven and throughout Fairfield County: Bridgeport, Westport, Danbury, Stamford, Waterbury, Milford. Our principal attorney, Carmina Hirsch, has a well-deserved formidable reputation among the members of the Connecticut divorce bar. Call today for an appointment to discuss your divorce or custody issues with our top professional legal advisor.