Family Law and Social Media in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

                  Increasingly social media has been blamed for leading to many divorces—but can social media also have an impact on the outcome of your divorce? Most family law attorneys say yes. If you’re going through a divorce, it may be a good idea to watch what you say on social media—at least until your settlement is finalized by a judge.

            According to Forbes, more lawyers like Curtis Cowan with The Family Law Department of KO Lawyers are using social media to help their clients catch their former spouse’s hidden bank accounts and assets. Even if you’ve unfriended your spouse, it can be hard to know whether certain friends have decided to take sides. Anything you post on social media can be used against you during your divorce.

            Let’s say you and your spouse get separated and are in the process of finalizing your divorce. Even though you were never unfaithful to your spouse, you’re ready to move on and start dating. Let’s say you post a cruise vacation with your girlfriend or a picture of you and your new beau on a date. If your ex claims you were unfaithful during your marriage, these images can be used against you during divorce proceedings and you may be required to pay your spouse extra as a result, especially if the court decides that you used common marital funds to pay for these gifts and vacations. Any images you post about lifestyle can also be used against you when it comes to determining alimony or child support, so it’s important to be careful about what kinds of messages you’re sending on social media. Being seen on your friend’s brand new boat might not be the best idea. There have been cases where individuals were accused of giving assets to friends to hold for them until a divorce was finalized.

            Yet, if you do suspect your ex is hiding something, sometimes social media is a good place to start. You and your lawyer can often perform a quick and inexpensive investigation. For instance, if your ex is saying he doesn’t make enough to meet your child support demands in court, but then posts about earning 6 figures on his dating profile, you may have a good case on your hands.

            At the end of the day, family law attorneys generally warn their clients to monitor their social media, e-mail, and text messages. If you’re going through a divorce, it’s a good idea to assume that a judge will read everything. According to one infographic, as many as 81% of family law attorneys use social media to gather evidence for their divorce cases.

            Finally, divorcing individuals should use common sense when posting to social media. Disable Facebook relationship status icons until the divorce is finalized. Avoid posting pictures and don’t rant about your ex on public forums. Remember that any comments you make about your marriage, your spouse, or your current life can be used against you in court. They can be held against you during your custody battle or during discussion about alimony payments.

            When in doubt, speak to your family law attorney in Fort Lauderdale, Florida who can help you better understand the potential impact of photos, posts, and social media on your divorce. You can also visit the Family Law Department of KO Lawyers at www.curtcowanlaw.com.