Contemplating Divorce? Beware Social Networking

Fact:  Facebook updates, tweets and other social media posts can all be used as evidence in court proceedings.   Suspicious spouses have used social networking sites to find evidence of flirting and even affairs which have then led to divorce.   Such sites are now frequently referred to in divorce petitions for unreasonable behaviour.

So if you are contemplating a divorce in a situation which could become acrimonious in relation to financial matters or issues relating to children, be aware of the fact that your former partner / spouse may use any ammunition you unwittingly leave online to discredit you. 

Practical advice:-

1.         Clean up your Facebook presence and be mindful of who you’re friends with.  It may seem obvious but people often “friend” their partner / spouse.  Facebook then serves as the perfect archive of the development of the relationship.

2.         For parents facing a battle regarding contact / residence to their children, Facebook can pose an even bigger danger.  Pictures of you drinking, smoking or engaging in irresponsible behaviour can be used as evidence.   Facebook can also be used to document your whereabouts – were you really ill or were you having a night on the town with the girls? 

3.         Make sure your "Friends" are being friends.  What your friends and family post online is often great material for a divorce lawyer.  So don’t engage in potentially incriminating gossip and photos, both those posted by you and others.  And if your "Friends" are really friends, they’ll abide by your request to keep your offline conversations private and your photos clean.

4.         Don’t forget email - one thing people forget is that when you delete an email, it doesn’t disappear. It will sit in your deleted items folder — whether it’s on your phone or your computer — until you permanently delete it.

Change the password to your computer.  With full access your partner / spouse can browse the contents of connected computers.

It’s difficult to think about these things in the throes of a separation, but taking these measures will afford you protection from your former partner / spouse seeking to discredit you in court which could have a significant impact upon any settlement.

For more information about this or any other issue relating to family law contact Lisa Kemp

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