If you were asked to picture a divorce proceeding, would you think about a courtroom with a husband on one side, a wife on the other, and a judge in the middle to officiate the battle? While the image in your head may not be quite so stereotypical, it is likely that your concept—like that of most people—is something similar. What you may not realize, though, is that the vast majority of civil cases, including divorce, are not decided in the courtroom; instead, they are negotiated in other ways and a judge is only required to approve the settlement and enter it as part the judgment. Mediation is among the most common methods used to reach an agreement in a divorce, and the process offers a number of advantages, including time and cost savings, flexibility, and increased participation from both parties. There is one additional benefit, however, that is often overlooked: a dramatically increased sense of privacy and security.
Courtroom Transcripts
When your divorce or child-related case is heard inside a courtroom, a court reporter is always present to make a permanent record of the proceedings. Virtually every word is recorded in written form so as create a transcript for any needed future reference. The proceeding itself, along with the transcript, become a matter of public record, unless there is a particular reason or order that they should not.
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In certain divorce cases, 
