Divorce Can Be Complicated by Unwise Social Media Use
Once a divorce is under way, it is important to be discreet when thinking of using social media to talk about the future ex-spouse and one's marriage problems.
October 30, 2012
Facebook can be hazardous to marriages in Arizona -- and to divorces as well. The most obvious link with divorce is that spouses may be led to stray when reconnecting with old loves via social media. Even without going to that extreme, though, people may behave unwisely online, forgetting that they have a wide audience. Increasingly, people's postings on social media accounts are being used as evidence in divorce cases, even if their account is set up as private.Sharing relationship problems with Facebook friends has potentially farther-reaching consequences than sitting down for an in-person heart-to-heart with a friend. If a marriage is on shaky ground, publishing status updates about the latest spousal transgression is unlikely to help patch things up. And once a divorce is under way, it is important to be discreet when thinking of using social media to talk about the future ex-spouse and one's marriage problems.
As of 2010, 81 percent of American divorce attorneys reported an increase over the past five years in the number of divorce cases that used evidence from social networks, according to a survey from the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.
While there may be some satisfaction for a divorcing spouse in using social media to tell the world what a horrible person the other spouse is, it's a bad idea. Judges who are shown Facebook rants about a spouse take a dim view, and not of the person being bad-mouthed. Decisions about child custody, child support, alimony and parenting time might weigh in the balance.
Even what might seem to be innocent comments on social media can be damaging. Divorcing parties are required to reveal their finances, completely and honestly. If a spouse is claiming there is no money for child support or alimony, but at the same time is sharing pictures on Facebook of an expensive vacation or new car, that can undermine that person's credibility.
Having a candid discussion with an experienced divorce attorney is essential for anyone thinking about divorce, and an attorney will be sure to advise clients how to use social media prudently. If you are thinking of getting a divorce, contact a knowledgeable family law lawyer for more information.
Article provided by Law Offices of Michael D. Miller
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