Tips for Using Social Media During Your Divorce

 Posted on December 23, 2019 in Divorce

There is no doubt that social media can have a huge impact on divorce proceedings and family law matters. Although you may not realize it, the things you post on social media can be admissible as evidence in court. If you are getting divorced, you should know that the messages, photographs, and other information you are sharing online may be scrutinized and potentially used against you.

Proceed With Caution When Using Social Media During Child Custody Disputes

If you and your spouse disagree about the allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time, you should be especially cautious about what you post on social media. When Illinois courts are considering what type of parenting arrangement is in a child’s best interests, they will consider a wide range of factors listed in the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, including the child’s relationship with his or her parents, the parents’ physical and mental health, and more. One factor that often gets overlooked is “the willingness and ability of each parent to facilitate and encourage a close and continuing relationship between the other parent and the child.” If you make disparaging comments about your spouse, it could be construed as an unwillingness to encourage a good relationship between your child and his or her other parent.

Social Media May Provide Clues About Financial Fraud

Courts can only make appropriate decisions about spousal maintenance, child support, and asset distribution when both parties are honest about their financial circumstances. If you suspect that your spouse may be lying about finances in order to manipulate the divorce settlement in his or her favor, social media may contain clues about this deception. For example, if you are pursuing spousal maintenance, your spouse may underreport his or her income in an attempt to avoid paying his or her fair share of alimony. However, if he or she posts pictures of expensive purchases and luxury vacations on Facebook, the court may have reason to look more closely into his or her true financial circumstances. If you have reason to suspect that your spouse is hiding assets, contact an experienced divorce attorney right away.

Contact a DuPage County Divorce Lawyer

Many people make social media mistakes during divorce that can cause them a great deal of unnecessary stress and complications. On the other hand, information found on your spouse’s social media pages can offer valuable evidence that can help you prove financial fraud and other wrongdoing during divorce. For help with divorce-related matters, including property division, child custody, child support, spousal maintenance, and more, contact a Wheaton family law attorney at The Stogsdill Law Firm, P.C. Call us at 630-462-9500.

Sources:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jefflanders/2013/08/20/how-social-media-can-affect-your-divorce/#5d10a7c335a3

https://www.prevention.com/sex/g20430726/social-media-mistakes-during-divorce/

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?ActID=2086&SeqStart=8300000&SeqEnd=10000000