People file for divorce for all kinds of personal reasons ranging from domestic violence to pornography addictions. Some of these divorces will be quick, while others will take much more effort to settle. If the couple divorcing can’t agree on terms, a judge will make the final decisions.
Sometimes, the bad behavior of one spouse can have a bearing on property division or custody. A judge may not want to let someone have overnight parenting time if they have a serious addiction to alcohol or drugs. Money spent on an extramarital affair might affect how a couple’s assets are divided.
Those embarrassing details aren’t necessarily something that you want to make part of the public record, but that is likely what will happen during a litigated divorce in Tennessee. Anything you say in family court could become gossip fodder for others either now or in the future when they request transcripts from the court proceedings.
Choosing to divorce through mediation is a great option for those who want to protect their privacy during the proceedings — and beyond.
Mediation is typically confidential
Tennessee law makes mediation confidential, at least to the point allowed under state statutes and agreed upon in the contract between the parties mediating. The records of what you discuss can’t become public information in most cases, with very rare exceptions.
The confidentiality of mediation means the two of you can discuss difficult topics that have complicated your divorce without the worry of your children or someone else eventually learning about those issues. Once you sort things out with your ex and reach an agreement through divorce mediation, you can file for an uncontested divorce and leave the whole messy business in your past.
