Charlotte Divorce Lawyer Blog
Social Media During Divorce: Protect Yourself
Navigating your life throughout the divorce process can be tricky at best. In North Carolina, the process for no-fault divorce is lengthy because it requires a full year of separation before a divorce can be granted. With all the stress of divorce, you need to know how to best protect yourself during the process. You need to do everything you can to make the divorce settlement process as easy and stress-free as possible.
Social Media Can Impact Your Divorce
Social media is a major way of communicating these days. People post many different things online and often communicate by posting to social media sites. Although you may be accustomed to posting about your life online, you need to know that it can affect your divorce. Posting some things can actually be detrimental to a fair settlement. For example, posting about expensive purchases, a costly vacation, or a new relationship could raise issues in your divorce.
Social Media is Accessible
Keep in mind that posts are generally public, and they can be used as evidence. This includes photos and posts, as well as comments you make on other posts. You may even be inadvertently part of someone else’s posts, including being tagged in photos. Remember that your spouse or attorneys may track your social media accounts. If you keep your social media accounts, make sure to manage your privacy settings so they cannot be viewed without permission.
Avoid Using Social Media
The best thing to do during this period of separation and divorce is to refrain from social media activity completely. Stop using social media as a way to communicate with others. Instead, connect with them through traditional methods that do not leave a paper trail. Even posts that may seem innocent could end up being problematic later. For example, posting photos of yourself at a party or bar could later be used against you in a custody battle.
Carefully Evaluate Before Posting
When making online posts, use scrutiny beforehand. Do not make posts that exhibit your lifestyle. For instance, posting about buying a new car or other major purchase could be a point of issue in your divorce. Do not post about a new relationship, even if you want to show that you are moving on. Avoid making negative posts about your ex. Vent your frustrations in a different way rather than online. Do not make statements, even in jest, that could be misconstrued by others. Instruct your friends and relatives not to post photos of you or your children, tag you in photos, or make comments on your posts.
Review Previous Posts
Even things that you posted months or years ago could end up negatively impacting your divorce. Go back through your social media to review anything that could be perceived in a negative manner. Remember that removing posts will not always get rid of them completely. Be aware that someone could print or take a screenshot of your posts before you remove them. Do not delete posts once your case has begun, because that can be construed as trying to hide or remove evidence.
It is a good idea to seek legal guidance as you go through separation and divorce. Call us today at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, at (704) 370-2828 to schedule a consultation with our experienced legal team.
The family law practice group at Arnold & Smith, PLLC includes two Board-Certified Family Law specialists and one Child Welfare Law specialist, as well as several attorneys with many years of family law experience that are committed to providing a powerful voice to individuals facing the often-tumultuous issues in this area of law. The range of issues our family law clients may be facing include pre- and post-nuptial agreements; separation agreements; post-separation support; child support (both temporary and permanent); absolute divorce; divorce from bed and board; military divorce; equitable distribution of assets; child custody (both temporary and permanent); retirement benefits and divorce; alimony and spousal support; adoption; and emancipation. Because this area of the law is usually emotionally charged and complicated, the family law attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC act with the utmost dedication to ensure that each client understands his or her options, and then act to achieve the best result possible for that client’s particular situation.
Source:
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/social-media.asp
https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/how-to-manage-your-privacy-settings-on-social-media/
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