Social media during divorce, sending your spouse text messages, tweeting, or posting on Facebook in the heat of the moment, can be extremely detrimental during your divorce process. Having a written statement of your thoughts and feelings with the record of time is a powerful piece of evidence that can come back to haunt you and be used against you.
The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers conducted a survey of the nation's top attorneys revealing an increase in smart phone and text evidence during divorces. "A resounding 92% of the nation's top divorce attorneys say that they have seen an increase in the number of cases using evidence taken from iPhones, Droids, and other smart phones during the past three years, according to a recent survey of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML). In addition, 94% of the respondents have cited an overall rise in the use of text messages as evidence during the same time period."
As technology increases, it is a challenge for some people to restrain from Social Media During Divorce. We are so used to texting and posting our thoughts immediately that we don't think of the longevity and consequences. If you find yourself in the heat of a conversation, try typing out your text and saving it as a draft as opposed to immediately sending it. Therefore, after a day or two when you're in a clear mindset you can make a more objective decision as to whether or not that text is necessary and appropriate to send. Think of it this way, your spouse isn't going to be the only one to see the message, so be cautious.
Ken Altshuler stated in his article in the Huffington Post, "Having evidence in writing is always the most effective proof in demonstrating that someone is being dishonest, contradictory, and lacks credibility. Credibility is the coin of the realm in the world of family law. Once you can effectively question someone's credibility with their own written statements, then everything else can be doubted about them."
Hiding your Facebook and Twitter account, and avoiding Social Media During Divorce, can be beneficial and minimize any extra headaches in the long run. Not having those social media sites can reduce the temptation to post thoughts and feelings that can come back to trouble you down the road.
Libby Mouradjian
Mavrides Law
