Have you ever posted something on social media and wished you hadn’t? Sure, you can quickly delete a Facebook or Instagram post and pretend it never existed, but how many people saw that post (text, photo, or video) before it was deleted? What if they grabbed a screenshot and forwarded the post to someone who might see it as rude, disrespectful, or even incriminating? These are all questions you should ask yourself — especially when considering how social media posts could impact a divorce case.
While social media is great for catching up with friends and family, sharing what’s going on in your life, or passing the day by, not using it responsibly during a divorce can lead to a litany of negative consequences you didn’t realize were possible.
The Role of Social Media in Family Law Cases
Social media, text messages, emails, and other online activity can play an important and sometimes damaging role in your divorce case, as they create an almost irrefutable electronic record that lawyers can use as exhibits in hearings. For example, let’s just say you are in the middle of a heated case and decide to hurl a series of disparaging comments toward your soon-to-be ex-spouse in a barrage of Facebook posts. You may even post a video instead because your frustrations are simply too much to type. And in another post, you include pictures from a vacation you just took with your new significant other.
Certainly, this can paint you in an unfavorable light, which could impact how the judge views you and what decisions are made when it comes to child custody, spousal maintenance, property division, binding agreements, and much more.
Ask any family law attorney about how social media could impact a divorce case, and they’ll tell you that any online activity can lead to a lengthy list of potential hazards that further complicate your life and your case. You’re better off stopping social media use almost entirely until your divorce ends. If you don’t post anything, nothing can be used against you.
And if you don’t want to stop using social media, at least avoid anything questionable, immoral, or illegal.
Examples Of What Not to Say or Do on Social Media During a Divorce
- Airing your dirty laundry (ex: announcing you’re getting divorced)
- Talking negatively to or about your spouse
- Displaying acts of violence
- Sharing sensitive legal information about your case (rulings, documents, etc.)
- Announcing new relationships
- Anything that can call your mental health into question
- Roping your children or family into your posts
- Posting screenshots of private text messages with your spouse
- Posting anything that can be incriminating (shopping sprees, claiming you’re out of work but then buying a new car, etc.)
- Deleting your profile or existing content
Although it is not easy, our attorneys are committed to supporting and guiding clients through the dark days of marital crisis. And that includes giving them access to anything that helps them prepare for divorce.
Please call Christman | Daniell Attorneys, for your legal needs today!
Please consult an attorney for advice about your individual situation. The material on this website and in this or any blog article we publish are for informational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice. The attorneys at Christman | Daniell Attorneys believe in tailoring legal advice and solutions to your own personal circumstances.
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