Tes wrote:
Actually, I think that assumption is, unfortunately, wrong, at least with respect to historical records. Newer procedures are in place to minimize the publication but (a) old records haven't been redacted in most places and (b) the fact that Orly has repeatedly published multiple people's full SS# in court records (some of which have not been redacted or placed under seal to this day (!!!)) clearly demonstrates that the information is still not consistently treated as confidential info.
Thanks for that courthouse update, Tes. I'm sure it was too much to assume that someone with one of those green eye shade thingies has gone back and redacted old court files. So, in your recent experience, what do they do to minimize public access to, say, info in a QDRO?
The more I think about it, seven or eight years ago (my most recent hands-on frame of reference), a divorce file would have been just about the ideal starting point for identity theft. Not only did QDROs have the key personal identifiers, but they'd often have account numbers, financial institution names and asset amounts as well. Paging through the file, you'd get most of the other vital data you'd need -- D.O.B., date and place of marriage, past and current addresses etc. If the case was at all juicy, you might find an incorporated PSA and/or CSA with lots of additional financial and family information.
And the ex-wife may have gotten an order restoring her name, too. What better time to pull off some chicanery than when someone is in the process of effecting a court-ordered name change? What a great time to get a new drivers license, updated social security card, etc. Yikes! The possibilities make me shudder.
As for Orly's practices, what can you say? As long as the bar appears to be a toothless tiger...