ConfidentialityNo. 06
Confidentiality, explained plainly.
Discretion is part of the work, not a promise on a banner. Here is what is protected, what is not, and what you can do to keep your matter private.
§ 1
What is protected
Conversations with your lawyer for the purpose of legal advice are protected by attorney-client privilege. That protection generally extends to our staff and to experts we hire to help us advise you.
Privilege protects communications, not facts. A bank account is not secret because you told us about it; what you and we discussed about it is.
§ 2
Before you are a client
We start every first contact with a conflict check: your name and your spouse's or partner's name, nothing else. If your spouse has already consulted us, we may not be able to act for you, and it would be unfair to both of you for us to hear your story first.
So please do not send details through our forms, by email or in a voicemail before we have confirmed we can act for you. Our forms ask for broad categories only.
§ 3
Your phone, email and devices
Use a phone and an email account your spouse cannot open. Check whether messages, photos or documents sync to a shared cloud account or a family tablet, and whether a shared phone plan shows call logs.
Tell us how and when it is safe to reach you. We note it on your file and never leave a detailed voicemail unless you say it is safe. The Quick exit button at the top of every page takes you to a neutral weather page in one tap.
§ 4
Inside the firm
Your file is opened under a matter code rather than your name. Shared calendars read "consultation", not "divorce". Invoices and emails are written so that a glance over your shoulder reveals nothing.
Only the people working on your matter can open its folder, and outside experts sign confidentiality terms before they see anything.
§ 5
Court records
In Texas, court filings are generally public, and sealing records is allowed only in narrow situations. We cannot promise that nothing about a divorce will ever be public.
What we can usually do is reduce what reaches the public file: resolve issues through mediation or a collaborative process, use protective orders and confidentiality agreements for business records produced in discovery, and keep the decree itself as brief as the law allows. Rules on sealing and protective orders differ by state and by court.
§ 6
Press, staff and social media
We do not confirm or deny who our clients are to anyone: reporters, business associates, family members. If your matter may attract attention, we plan for it together, including what your company's staff are told and when.
We also advise on social media. A post, a photo from a trip or a new purchase can become evidence. The safest default during a divorce is to post very little.
A short checklist
- Use a device and email only you can open
- Turn off shared cloud sync for messages and photos
- Tell us when it is safe to call, and whether voicemail is safe
- Keep copies of documents you can lawfully access; ask us before taking anything else
- Post as little as possible on social media until the matter is resolved
If you are worried about your safety, call 911. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-7233.
General information about Texas practice, not legal advice. See also the FAQ.
Start with names only
Book a consultation and we will run the conflict check first. Nothing else is needed until we confirm we can act for you.
Or call the office
(214) 555-0163We never leave a detailed voicemail unless you tell us it is safe.