When you are going through a divorce, there are many disputes that you will need to settle with your spouse. If you are fighting for child custody, then your children may also be involved in the divorce battle. In today's digital society, social media sites like Facebook and Instagram are a part of our everyday lives. Chances are that you update your social media profiles on a daily basis and post photos or statuses about your daily activities. Unfortunately, these profiles are accessible by most of your friends and family. Whatever you post may be accessible by your spouse's lawyer as well. There are many cases where Facebook posts or photos retrieved online can influence a case.
For example, if you post photos of your brand new car, or a luxurious vacation that you are taking with your friends, then the court may see these photos and determine that you don't need any spousal support or child support. It is best to keep any large-scale purchases or luxuries offline while you are asking for child support or spousal support so that you can accurately display your need for financial assistance. Even if the trip you posted photos of was a vacation you won, or a vacation your friends paid for, the standard of living that you display may be enough to discourage the court from giving you the financial help you want.
It is also wise for parents to avoid posting anything online that they wouldn't want their children to see. This can be anything from photos of a rowdy party to pictures of a new interest or a status expressing angst at your spouse. When your children read your Facebook statuses or Tweets, they may be discouraged from developing a relationship with you. Because the court will decide child custody based on what is best for the children, your rants could backfire.
It is important to avoid complaining or ranting on your public profiles in any sense. It is also wise to avoid posting any statuses or photos that have to do with questionable activity. This can be anything including smoking, drugs, alcohol, partying, clubbing, sleeping around attending questionable events and more. If you display a wild, reckless, or crazy life online, then the courts may decide that you are not a stable parent who could provide for your children.
You will also want to make sure that your friends are aware of your divorce and will not tag you in photos that would derail your reputation. Instead, post about your involvement in your children's lives, your job, and other profitable things. While it is never wise to be deceptive on Facebook, it is also not smart to post anything that could be misinterpreted and represent you as a bad parent.
All in all, being wise with what you post online during a divorce is essential. When you can show discretion with your online profiles, this will help you to show the courts that you are discretionary in other areas of life. If your spouse posts foolish things online during your divorce trial, then you and your attorney can harvest this information and use it against him or her during your case. While this may be helpful in your case when you argue for property division or child custody, remember that your spouse has the right to do the same thing. Clean your profiles up immediately if you are worried that your spouse could use photos or statuses posted online to contest you. Contact a family attorney today if you want more information.