How Social Media Can Be Used Against You in a Divorce Case

If you’re like most people, you have an account on at least one social media page. If you’re a regular poster to the site, you may share life updates without really thinking about the impact. However, when you’re going through a divorce, you need to consider how a post about your spouse will be seen by others. Posting negative status updates can cause problems in court. Your  spouse may use your social media against you in several ways during your divorce.

Your Posts Are Admissible in Court

First, you need to understand that anything you put on social media can be admitted as evidence in court. This includes any photos, videos, text, and even potential links or funny animations you share. Even if you later delete the posts, they may not be fully deleted. Other users can take screenshots of your posts. Some social media sites also archive posts. A good rule of thumb is to avoid posting anything online that you would not say to someone in person. Even if you have locked your profile to friends only, it’s possible your posts will still get shared.

Your Online Statements May Contradict Your In-Court Statements

One of the reasons why you need to be very careful about what you post on social media is that it may contradict your in-court statements. Even if you only post vague statements, lawyers can question you about them while you are under oath. It’s even possible your social media posts could conflict with documents you have submitted. Furthermore, the court could charge you with fraud if your posts allude to assets you haven’t disclosed.

You Could Lose Custody of Your Children

If you post incredibly vindictive or angry rants about your soon-to-be-ex on social media, it can hurt your custody case. Your spouse could submit those posts as a sign that you are not willing to co-parent. If you post about your weekend binge drinking, it could be used to show you are an unfit parent. You may think a post is fairly innocent, but it could be submitted and used against you. That’s why you should greatly decrease or completely spot your social media habits during your divorce.

If you’re going through a divorce, we can help. The Gandhi Selim Law Firm has years of experience in divorce court. Contact us today to book an appointment.