Sean Parnell, a candidate for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania, recently made headlines when a court rejected his motion to prevent his wife from discussing restraining orders she sought against him in their contentious divorce. His motion to seal records of an ongoing custody battle was also denied. 

In the realm of family law, where keeping personal details private is often of paramount concern, non-disparagement/non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) are frequently employed between parties. The NDA is based on terms parties reach on their own. When terms can’t be achieved, one or both spouses may seek the intervention of the courts to provide a gagging order that limits what can and can’t be disclosed in the matter.