Elizabeth Solomon Family Law Blog on Lawyers.com

YOUR FACEBOOK ACCOUNT IS NOT YOUR FRIEND DURING DIVORCE

Thursday, November 8, 2012 by Elizabeth Solomon

YOUR
FACEBOOK ACCOUNT IS NOT YOUR FRIEND DURING DIVORCE

Social media cites like Facebook and
My Space are great places to share news with your friends efficiently; like my
spouse just filed for divorce, along with an unflattering picture of your
spouse and examples of his/her bad behavior.
As the divorce progresses, you might be tempted to keep your friends
updated on your conflict. This often
entails taking shots at your spouse. As
you get ready to move on, you want to share that you are starting to date, with
information about some prospects.

People unwittingly share very
private information about themselves on Facebook or other social media cites
without realizing that during a divorce they may be undermining their
cases. It is relatively easy for your
spouse to get copies of this information and keep track of you. In a recent survey of top divorce lawyers,
Facebook was identified as the best source of bad behavior that can be used in
court against you.

If you have a Facebook or My Space
account, be careful what you post. You
might want to take a sabbatical for a time, while you figure out the direction
your life will be taking.

Ask your friends to be careful in
sharing information about you. For
example, you might go to a bar with your friends. Someone takes a picture of
you looking drunk, hanging onto a member of the opposite gender and posts it on
their website. Your friend’s Facebook
account is available to your spouse and the picture will be used as an exhibit
in your custody battle.

If you have a new significant other,
ask him or her to keep the details of your relationship private. Nothing can drive up your lawyer fees faster
than having a jealous spouse. Remember this is a very emotional time. Many clients think they are safe to date
because their spouse is dating. During
divorce, many people forget the adage, “what good for the goose is good for the
gander.” Yes, your husband may have
ended the marriage by having a mistress, but he will be enraged if you start
dating. It is not fair and frequently
does not make sense. Just know that you
will pay more in attorney fees if your dating becomes known to him. Therefore, be discrete.

At
this time when you are trying to figure out a new life for yourself and your
family, do not make it a media event.
Talk with a few close, trusted friends or relatives. Follow the advice
of the professionals in your life; your therapist and lawyer. Keep your life
off the web.

Posted at 13:44 PM

Topic: Family Law