Divorce lawyers have seen an increase in the number of clients who gather evidence for their case from their spouse’s social media profiles. In some instances, social media itself is the cause of divorce; in fact, according to ABC News, 33 percent of all divorce filings in 2011 contained the word “Facebook.”
In the Digital Age, maintaining an active online presence can do more than just destroy your marriage; it can also hurt you during the divorce proceedings. If you are in the middle of a contentious custody battle, attorney Elliot Green can help you avoid costly mistakes that would compromise your personal or financial interests. Call 718-260-8668 to schedule a free consultation with a Queens child custody lawyer at the Elliot Green Law Offices.
Read on for a few social media tips to keep in mind during your divorce:
- Don’t Publish Your Feelings
It is important to acknowledge your feelings and even share them with others in order to work through them, but feelings change. Even if you are upset today, you may be in a good mood tomorrow, and venting on social media is rarely a good idea.
If you need to talk to someone, call a friend or consider seeing a therapist. Do not post your feelings on Facebook, where everyone can see them. You can always delete posts if your feelings change, but you have no way of knowing who might have taken a screenshot of them before you did so.
- Don’t Discuss Your Case
If your friends know that you are going through a divorce, they might offer advice by commenting on your social media profiles. You can thank them for the insight if you find it helpful, but you should never respond by divulging details of your own case. When it comes to social media, even personal profiles are essentially on public forums, and you have no way of knowing who might see these posts—or use your legal strategies against you.
- Don’t Bash Your Ex
It may be tempting to bash your ex online, especially if he or she was responsible for the divorce and you want to set the record straight, but doing so could hurt you in the end. If a judge learns that you have been badmouthing your spouse, the court might infer that you are not willing to co-parent.
- Don’t Assume Your Profile Is Private
Even if you change your privacy settings, there are ways that your spouse’s legal team may still be able to access your profiles. Do not assume that you can discuss your case or bash your spouse simply because your profile is private.
If you are considering divorce and you foresee a child custody battle, contact the Elliot Green Law Offices. Call 718-260-8668 to schedule a free 30-minute consultation with a divorce attorney in Queens.
