Social media has become part of our daily lives. Through platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Snapchat, we are able to communicate and interact with one another, stay updated on current events, and share our day-to-day lives instantaneously. Some people even use social media to vent frustrations or look for advice.
In a divorce case, however, social media activity can be used against one or both parties to affects various issues, such as property division, alimony, child custody, child support, and more. The negative consequences of “oversharing” include creating potentially admissible evidence, stirring angry and jealous emotions, and undermining your case.
If you are going through a divorce, the following are the types of posts you should not have on your pages:
- Posts about extravagant presents or purchases – Money is always one of biggest issues in a divorce. If you are engaged in a hotly contested child or spousal support dispute, or any other financial dispute in your divorce, you should avoid posts about any purchases you made or presents you received. Furthermore, do not post about vacations or anything that can be worth an ample amount of money. If you’re attempting to claim a large number of assets from the marriage, yet your latest posts highlighted a luxurious trip to a tropical island or a new car, this type of spending behavior could make you appear frivolous.
- Posts about partying and going out – Posting about how inebriated you were one night or on consecutive nights makes you look like a bad parent, particularly in the eyes of most family law judges. Additionally, if you post about your partying lifestyle, especially during days or nights in which you were supposed to be supervising your children, you could lose full or partial custody entirely. Be aware of friends what your friends post about you as well.
- Posts about legal matters – Although it is common for people to vent about their problems on social media, airing your personal business on these platforms could undermine your case and let strangers into you and your family’s lives. If you need to talk about your divorce, reach out to your family, friends, or lawyer.
- Posts about a new flame – Even if you and your soon-to-be-ex agreed to see other people, posting pictures of him or her on social media may not be a good idea. Even changes in relationship status can typically be misconstrued or interpreted against your favor.
The best thing to do to avoid social media disrupting any part of your divorce case is to simply stop using it. Many people may be tempted to delete their accounts; however, deleting accounts can be seen as destroying evidence. Protect yourself by staying away from social media in general until your divorce is finalized.
If you are interested in filing for divorce in Wisconsin, contact Balisle Family Law Legal Counsel, S.C. and request a case evaluation with our Madison divorce attorney today.
