Work with a Discreet, Experienced Attorney

The first step in safeguarding your privacy is choosing an attorney who understands both the legal and reputational risks of a high-profile divorce. You’ll need a lawyer who not only knows California family law but also has the experience and discretion to keep sensitive information out of public view.

Attorney Katherine Cohan regularly represents clients in celebrity and high-asset divorces, where privacy is a top priority. With her team, you can trust that your information will be handled with the utmost confidentiality while still pursuing the strongest legal outcome.

Use Confidentiality Agreements (NDAs)

In high-profile divorces, it’s often wise to establish confidentiality agreements (non-disclosure agreements). These legally binding documents prevent spouses, attorneys, financial experts, and even household employees from sharing details about your divorce.

By extending NDAs to all professionals involved — from accountants to therapists — you significantly reduce the risk of leaks or unwanted media coverage.

Consider Mediation or Arbitration

Traditional courtroom divorce trials are public, but mediation and arbitration allow you to resolve disputes privately.

• Mediation brings in a neutral third party to help both sides negotiate issues like custody, property division, and support. It’s private, often faster, and less costly than litigation.
• Arbitration functions more like a private trial. An arbitrator hears both sides and issues a legally binding decision — without the public exposure of a courtroom.

Both approaches keep sensitive details away from public records and limit media access.

Minimize Public Filings and Court Appearances

Even in cases that involve litigation, there are ways to limit what becomes public. Your attorney can structure filings to exclude sensitive details and push for negotiations outside the courtroom to minimize hearings.

The fewer public court appearances you make, the less attention your case is likely to draw.

Be Careful with Social Media

One of the biggest risks to privacy today comes not from the courtroom, but from social media. Even seemingly harmless posts can be taken out of context or used against you in court. In high-profile cases, they can even spark unwanted media stories.

Best practices include:

• Limiting or pausing social media activity during your divorce
• Avoiding posts about your spouse, finances, or the legal process
• Reviewing your privacy settings and connections carefully

Remember: even deleted posts can sometimes resurface.

Protect Financial and Business Information

High-asset divorces often involve sensitive financial documents — tax returns, investment portfolios, business valuations, and more. While disclosure is necessary for dividing assets, steps can be taken to prevent this information from becoming public.

This may include filing financial documents under seal, redacting sensitive data, or extending confidentiality agreements to advisors and business partners.

Stay Professional in Public

Public divorces attract public interest. Avoid confrontations, arguments, or emotional conversations in places where you could be overheard or recorded. Maintaining professionalism helps protect both your privacy and reputation.

Protect Your Children’s Privacy

When children are involved, protecting them from public scrutiny is essential. Courts are often sympathetic to sealing records in custody disputes, but parents must also be proactive. Keeping routines stable, shielding them from media exposure, and involving child specialists when needed can help protect their emotional well-being.

Protecting Your Privacy in a High-Profile Divorce

A high-profile divorce doesn’t have to mean sacrificing your privacy. With the right legal strategies — from confidentiality agreements and sealed records to mediation and careful handling of financial information — you can keep personal details out of the public eye.

At Divorce Defenders, attorney Katherine Cohan is dedicated to protecting the privacy and dignity of clients facing high-stakes, high-asset, or high-profile divorces in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, and across California.

📞 Contact us today to schedule a private consultation and take control of your next chapter.