Q: A collection agency has court ordered my husband to hand in his tax returns for the last 2 years. They are joint returns

A: A collection agency did no such thing. The creditor to whom your husband owes money obtained a court order requiring your husband to turn over tax records. Unfortunately for you, you have no say in the matter because these are joint tax returns. The creditor has every right to the records.

A: When a court orders tax returns to be provided, especially if it's part of a legal process involving debts or collections, both parties whose information is on the joint returns are typically required to comply. This includes cases where the tax returns are jointly filed, as your and your husband's are. While your concerns about privacy are understandable, the legal requirement to produce these documents generally overrides personal preferences about disclosure.

However, it’s possible to address these concerns by requesting the court or the collecting agency to limit the disclosure of this information only to those who absolutely need to see it. Courts often have measures to protect sensitive personal information, and you can inquire about placing restrictions on how your tax returns are handled and who has access to them.

You might consider consulting with an attorney who can provide advice tailored to your situation and possibly help with filing a motion to protect your privacy. Legal guidance could offer you strategies to minimize exposure of your personal financial information while complying with the court order.