Things to consider before you share on social media

We all rely on social media, texting and emails for various reasons.  For some, it is a great way to stay in contact with friends and family.  For others social media provides connectivity to make new business connections.  Regardless of why you use online communications, one thing is clear.  If you are going through a divorce, be careful what you create and post on the internet.  It is a good idea to avoid Facebook blog posts, messages or e-mail if you are under any kind of type of psychological stress. Simply put, if you really feel the smallest bit mad, distressed, dismayed, or sad, you must allow those sensations to pass before publishing information about your situation. It is usually a sound idea to ask yourself, “why you are publishing or sharing something via post, email or text in the first place?”  It is vital that you realize every little thing that you state on Facebook, Twitter, in a text, or an email can be used as evidence.  This can sometimes result in dire consequences in your divorce situation.

Social sharing can create obstacles in your family law case

For many of us Facebook or Twitter is a fast and convenient way to share important updates in your life with family and friends.  However it is generally not an appropriate vehicle to update people on the status of your divorce or child custody case.  A good rule of thumb is to remember that if it is on the internet, it lasts forever.  Even an innocent update or message can be taken out of context and the meaning of your post could be lost.  It is quite common for your partners divorce lawyer to check your social media profiles for damaging evidence.  Some people will perform a check of their posts to help ensure that there is nothing online that can potentially hurt their case.  Depending on your situation it may be highly beneficial to speak with a family law attorney prior proceeding with divorce filings.

Texting and emails can also be used as evidence in your case.

People can sometimes forget that even innocent interactions be to introduced as evidence, especially messages, e-mails, texts and voicemails.  Divorce is often a highly emotional situation, and you cannot let your emotions get the better of you.  It is hard to anticipate how these items may be used, and even if they do not contain damaging content, the number and frequency of these messages can also come into play.  For example, if you send a large amount of texts and phone calls in a short amount of time you ex-spouse could claim that you are harassing them.  Salt Lake City courts, and in fact all courts in Utah routinely allow social media posts and emails as evidence in separation situations.  People often find that their worst side comes out when writing a text or drafting an email.  Think about it, have you ever written someone a nasty or mean-spirited message before?  We often find that typing these things is far easier than saying them face to face with that individual.

Seek legal counsel for your divorce

Experienced family law attorneys have seen hundreds of unique situations.  Part of this means knowing what opposing counsel can do to shed a bad light on their clients.  If you are going through or considering a divorce, it is highly valuable to speak with an attorney.  For residents of Utah we invite you to call our office at (801) 393-1106 to speak with a legal professional today.