Does what I post on social media matter?
When you begin going through divorce proceedings — or just a custody battle in the case of unmarried parents — you begin questioning everything you do and day and wonder if and how it may affect your case. And rightly so. When you are involved in family court proceedings, everything is under scrutiny. With technology increasingly becoming a part of our daily lives, it’s easy to post something that could be used against you in court without even realizing.
The two main areas where a party’s social media posts can be problematic in the courts are when it comes to finances and child custody. Unfortunately, it’s quite common for people to try to lie about their incomes or attempt to hide assets. Maybe you know how much money your ex-makes a year, but he never told you about last year’s Christmas bonus. Social media posts that show a lifestyle inconsistent with the financial declaration in the case or that mention additional, unreported funds or assets can mean big problems.
Social media can also have a major effect on child custody cases. When you are involved in a custody battle, everything is fair game, from the pile of dirty dishes in your sink to who you went out on Friday night. Photos are especially easy for a lawyer to spin to their client’s best interests in a courtroom. When in doubt, don’t post it.
If you think you have posted on your social media accounts that could be used against you in court proceedings, it’s important, to be honest about it to your lawyer. Your legal team needs a full understanding of the situation to best represent you.
Source: The Huffington Post, “How Facebook Can Be Used Against You in Divorce Court,” Christine Marchetti, accessed April 14, 2016
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