Stay off Social Media during your Divorce
These days, almost everyone has a social media presence. Whether you use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, or any other similar site, the information that you post can often be seen by a large number of people. If you are going through a divorce, you should always be extremely careful about anything you post on any type of social media, and the best bet is often to avoid posting anything at all until your divorce is finalized.
How social media can be used against you
Especially in a contentious divorce, your spouse may be looking for evidence to use against you so he or she can receive a better outcome. Because many of us share a substantial amount of information online, social media profiles are often gold mines for divorcing spouses. Social media postings may affect some major issues in a divorce, most notably parenting plans and spousal support orders.
A parenting plan1 sets out how much time your children will spend with each parent and the parenting roles each parent will play in the lives of the children. If you and your spouse are each fighting to spend the majority of time with your children, the court will look to what is in the best interests of the child. If you are posting pictures on social media of yourself out partying, drinking, or engaging in destructive behavior, that may be used against you.
Additionally, if you are claim that you cannot support yourself and are requesting that the court order spousal support2, your spouse will likely fight to limit such support. If you post photos or status updates of your latest vacation or shopping spree, that may be used against you to show that you can support yourself.
Finally, many people use social media to express what they are thinking without much editing. If you post negative comments about your spouse, it will likely only make the divorce that much more contentious and difficult to finalize.
Contact an experienced family law attorney in Seattle or Tacoma for help today
Many people may not realize how social media posts may affect their divorce case. This is only one reason why you should always have an experienced divorce attorney helping you with your case. A lawyer can give you advice and guide you through the divorce process with your best interests in mind. If you are facing divorce or have any other type of family law matter, do not hesitate to call the Dickson Frohlich Phillips Burgess at (206) 621-1110 or (253) 572-1000 for assistance.
