Celebrity Divorce Proceedings Require Greater Privacy, Sensitivity and Attention

Our American culture is obsessed with all things celebrity. We often know more about the love lives and personal struggles of our country’s top Hollywood movie stars, sportsmen, athletes, and singers than we do about members of our own families. Plus, all of this information can be gathered by simply standing in line at the grocery store. We have television programs – even entire networks – that are dedicated to following the daily life of celebrities and public figures. For some reason, the interest of readers and viewers seems to increase when the celebrity or public figure goes through a difficult period in their life. Just think of the allure of Britney Spears’ infamous meltdown during which she adopted a carefree hairstyle, did some damage with an umbrella, and lost custody of her children. Those images were plastered everywhere. Patrick Swayze is currently battling an aggressive form of pancreatic cancer, but the tabloids can’t wait to publish photos of him looking like his death is imminent. What is it in us that creates such a fascination to see others fall?

One area of ​​celebrity life where public interest peaks is the difficult decision two people make to file for divorce. Every couple that decides to separate faces difficult emotional and legal struggles. Add to this a media spotlight that scrutinizes every detail of the divorce process and an audience that determines the probable cause of the animosity and the culprits, and you have what can quickly become an unbearable situation for the participants. Whether appropriate or not, there are countless high-profile celebrity divorces that have captured our attention. Elizabeth Taylor was one of the pioneers in bringing media attention to her many divorces. More recently, we’ve walked through the sagas of Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, Britney Spears and Kevin Federline, Paul McCartney and Heather Mills, and many others. Reluctantly, Mel Gibson and his wife of twenty-eight years have announced their divorce. Websites and talk shows are already talking about how this legal settlement will be the most expensive in celebrity divorce settlement history. There always seems to be a new celebrity relationship that ends in volatile ways to satisfy our appetite for gossip.

What is often lost in these stories is the fact that two very real people, with emotions and feelings, are caught up in the circumstances. There may also be innocent children involved who didn’t ask to be celebrities and now face the possibility of seeing their parents’ personal arguments on the evening news. Child custody and divorce attorneys who work with celebrities must be aware of the heightened need for privacy regarding all paperwork that is printed and every conversation that takes place within the walls of the office. This is why it is so important to hire the right law firm.

Law firms representing each party in a celebrity divorce must ensure that confidentiality agreements are signed by all employees involved in the case, that shredders are on hand and used frequently, and that files of the computer are safe from hackers and just from those in the office. they don’t have to watch sensitive material. We all know how much money certain publications are willing to pay for a single sheet of paper that can reveal an unsavory detail about a public figure or Hollywood celebrity. And, once a divorced celebrity leaves the divorce attorney’s office and heads to the courtroom, there are additional privacy issues that need to be addressed. An attorney who is working as the best possible advocate for her client will petition the family law court to close the proceedings to the public or seal the paperwork associated with a celebrity case. If complete sealing of records is not permitted, efforts should be made to at least keep specific documents private that could damage a client’s reputation. Fair or not, the public will take very painful episodes that happened between two people and use this information against a celebrity, even if their ability to excel in their chosen field has no connection to the allegations. Worse yet, the court of public opinion will often not wait to find out whether the claims made in the documents filed with the court are true before rendering its own verdict.

Considering this increased need for privacy regarding celebrity divorces, there is an additional component to consider beyond the standard confidentiality that exists between each attorney and client. The reality is that a celebrity’s public image or celebrity status is often crucial to their continued success on the ballpark, stage, or in front of the camera. Beyond simply reaching the best possible divorce settlement or outcome for the client, an attorney representing a celebrity during a divorce must manage the image of the client and how information about the legal proceedings is distributed to the media. The divorce attorney representing the celebrity must suddenly take on the additional role of PR expert to maneuver in this delicate environment.

An estranged spouse with a grudge or former employee privy to family secrets can be very dangerous for a celebrity who has carefully created a perception for the world to see. On the other hand, personal assistants, agents, and managers who are happy with their famous employers and want to ensure they continue to be successful in their chosen fields are some of the best resources for generating evidence in a divorce case. Who better to answer for a celebrity client’s schedule and personal priorities than someone who helps plan her every move? Divorce attorneys must know how to work with these important witnesses to establish a sense of trust and then help these representatives shape a positive image of the client in the news and other media. When working with a celebrity client, the role of the divorce attorney necessarily extends beyond the courtroom or office environment.

Law firms that represent celebrity clients must have extensive experience handling sensitive issues that are specific to celebrity divorces and child custody cases. Such divorce attorneys must go to extraordinary lengths to maintain the privacy of their clients and work with them to build that all-important reputation in the public eye. Law firms that represent celebrity clients must share a core commitment to protecting their high-profile clients. They must work as a legal team to ensure the uninterrupted protection that celebrities require. This is true from the moment a celebrity is assisted with a discreet entrance into our offices, through the negotiations that take place between all parties involved, and even after an agreement has been reached and signed. When you combine this extra step with the dedication and aggressive representation we provide to each client, regardless of whether or not their face is recognizable to the public, those who are experiencing the painful steps of the divorce process can have confidence that their case will be resolved. pay close attention.

Celebrities and others with high marital estates (most are multi-million dollar estates) who have a lot at stake, both professionally and financially, need to make sure the attorneys they are hiring to guide them through a difficult divorce are prepared to take those decisions. additional steps are needed in these unique circumstances.