To Post or Not to Post
To Post or Not to Post
More than once, clients have expressed anger or dismay that their spouse has obtained personal information by looking at their email accounts. In today’s environment, posting on line with Face book, Twitter or other social media, as well as communicating by email, has become a way of life for many people.
If you are considering filing for divorce or if you have a family law matter already pending, it is important that you think twice before posting personal information on line or sending emails that might be problematic if your spouse or partner were to read them.
A person’s online activity may result in unintended consequences with reference to issues such as spousal support, child custody, or a parenting plan for your children.
If you are involved in a family law matter, or considering starting a family law case, please be mindful of the following:
Do not expect to have a right to privacy in documents and/or mail you create or receive on a home computer when you and your spouse are still sharing a house. The same applies to your smart phones, ipads, etc.
When sending email to a friend, family member, or other individual, always consider that the court or a child custody evaluator may read the mail you send.
Posts on social media (either created by you or in which you are tagged), may be used to your detriment.
Refrain from making negative comments about your spouse, your spouse’s family, your spouse’s attorney, or your family law process.
Consider that even seemingly innocent posts about social activities, parties, purchases, or trips, may cause difficulties you did not anticipate.
Setting up a new email account with a new password is easy to do and may avoid headaches for you later.
In Summary:
Consider taking a break from all Social Media until your family law case has been resolved. The hours you save can be used for exercise, visits with friends, or other activities that benefit you during what is often a stressful time.
