The industry norm is for lawyers to depend upon networking and marketing to get into and to stay in business. When lawyers choose to “chase” civil cases, in most instances it does not involve any potential harm to the parties. In domestic relations actions, that is not the case.
The focal point of this article is the time period following the filing of a publicly docketed divorce complaint when letters are sent to the defendant notifying him or her of the filing of the complaint for divorce with an offer of assistance with legal representation. This initial contact by an attorney can be how the defendant learns of the divorce action that has been filed against him or her. This contact is usually made without any knowledge of the parties and their domestic situation and it is this ignorance that has the potential to ignite a dangerous domestic situation. This form of solicitation remains a constant nuisance to those who fear for the lives of their clients when critical and confidential information is disclosed to the public. Presently, Philadelphia County does not allow public access to domestic relations cases; however, the four surrounding suburban counties (Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery) provide public access to all divorce cases filed of record.
