Learning About Divorce

You probably know that social media can have a big impact on your divorce. However, not everybody knows the extent of this effect. For example, here are three things you may not know about the issue:

Nothing Is Ever Private On Social Media

When it comes to social media, one thing you should never forget is that nothing is private. Anything you post can be accessed by other people and be used against you in court. People can save screenshots of your postings, your friends can share your postings with others, and friends of your friends may be able to view your postings. You never know how something is going to leak; therefore, if you don't want someone to see it, don't post it.

Deleting Things During Litigation Is Wrong

If you ever make a mistake and post a damaging photo or message, don't delete it. Deleting such a post may be viewed as destruction of evidence. What if someone saw the post and shared it or took its screenshot before you could delete it? Consider a case where, after a night of drinking, you log into a social media account and start bragging how you "cleverly" hid your money from your former spouse. If you make a mistake of deleting that post after sobering up, and the issue comes up in court, you may be charged with destruction of evidence.

 It's Not Just What You Post That Matter…

Lastly, you should know that you are not safe just because you are not active on social media or have decided to be "careful" with your postings. Posts from your friends, colleagues, or even strangers can all come back to haunt you as long as they can be used against you in court. For example, if your friends post pictures of you drinking late into the night when you are supposed to be taking care of your minor child, you may be required to explain with whom you left the child. If your underage kid posts pictures with your firearm, you may be labeled as an irresponsible parent. Since you can't prevent what people post, the solution is to avoid being in those situations in the first place.

This is one of the reasons you should hire a divorce lawyer like Kalamarides & Lambert early in your divorce. The lawyer will advise you on how you ought to conduct yourself in and out of the courtroom so as not to mess up your case.