When a couple divorces, the court records are usually open to the public. However, in some cases, the couple may choose to have their washington state divorce record sealed. There are several reasons why a couple might choose to seal their divorce court records. One reason is to protect the privacy of the parties involved. Another reason is to protect the children from being harassed or bullied by others. In addition, sealing court records can also help prevent embarrassing information from becoming public.
We will now see more into the common reasons for sealing divorce court records in Wahington.
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Protection of children from random identification in divorce records
Washington is one of a handful of states that seal divorce records to protect the privacy of children who may be randomly identified. In most cases, only the name of the petitioner and respondent are listed on the public record. The case number, filing date, and other identifying information are not available to the general public. This policy helps to ensure that children are not embarrassed or harassed because of their parents’ divorce.
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Protection of victims of domestic violence
Divorce Court Records are sealed in Washington for the protection of victims of domestic violence. The order, signed by King County Superior Court Judge Beth Andrus, prohibits the release of any documents filed in connection with a divorce case involving allegations of domestic violence. “This is a common-sense step to protect victims of abuse,” said Andrus. The fact that these records are now confidential will help keep perpetrators from using them as leverage against their victims.
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Providing security for sensitive information like social security numbers and bank account numbers
If you’re getting divorced in Washington state, your court records are likely to be sealed. That’s because the state has a law that specifically requires divorce records to be kept confidential in order to protect sensitive information like social security numbers and bank account numbers. The law applies to both the petitioner and the respondent in a divorce case. It also applies to anyone who has access to the records, including court staff, lawyers, and reporters.
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Protecting information about proprietary business
Divorce proceedings in the state of Washington are confidential. The divorce court records are sealed in Washington in order to protect the privacy of proprietary business information. Both parties involved in the divorce must agree to unseal the records, and the court will only do so if it is determined that there is no risk of harm to the company. This policy exists to ensure that businesses can maintain trade secrets and competitive advantages without fear of them being revealed in a divorce proceeding howitstart
