Social media is an integral part of everyday culture. For many, sharing life updates and pictures online has become second nature. However, if you’re going through a divorce, you may want to reconsider what you share with your followers.
Even with strict privacy settings, nothing on the internet is truly private. Oversharing on social media can create many unforeseen consequences, including providing evidence that can be used against you or your ex. What you post could affect decisions regarding child custody and support, alimony and more. Here are a few ways social media can negatively impact divorce proceedings:
Texts and emails
You may think digital communications with your ex are private, but they are actually admissible in court and could even get subpoenaed. For example, if your ex alludes to a new job or raise at work that he didn’t share with the court, it could serve as evidence that they weren’t honest about their financial declarations.
A good rule of thumb is that if you don’t want a judge to read it, don’t write it down during your divorce. Keep all written communications free of sensitive information.
Revealing hidden assets
In one divorce case, a lawyer used a LinkedIn profile to prove the existence of a side business that the party hadn’t disclosed to the court. The discovery helped the other party get more child support than they would have otherwise received.
Even if you block your ex from your online viewing your online profiles, they may still have access to what you share through screen captures and mutual friends. Think twice about what the content you share reveals about your life.
Child custody and support decisions
Social media records what you are doing, and when you are doing it. If you post pictures or videos of a wild night out on the town when you should have been with your kids, it may not bode favorably in child custody rulings.
Remember, once litigation has begun, all social media posts are fair game. A judge may rule harshly on custody and support decisions if they question your reliability.
Social media may be routine for you, but posting is against your best interests during your divorce. To protect yourself and avoid problems, set your social media accounts aside until your divorce is final.
