Can Technology Help You During Divorce and Child Custody?

 Posted on August 09, 2024 in Child Custody

We have all been warned to avoid social media posting during a divorce or custody determination, and for the most part, we understand why and go out of our way to do so. Even the most innocent picture or post, taken out of context, can end up making a difference in the allocation of parental responsibility, spousal support, or another divorce issue. There are many ways, however, that technology can actually help you during a divorce and even afterward once you, your ex-spouse, and the children settle into your new lives.

While there are certainly many ways technology can cause trouble for you—particularly social media—below you will find some creative ways that technology can actually make everyone’s life easier. Another way to make your life simpler during divorce is to have an experienced, compassionate Aurora, IL divorce attorney from The Law Office of Matthew M. Williams, P.C. by your side from start to finish. Having an advocate in your corner really makes a difference in how you come through this difficult time.  

Technology That Can Help You Before and During Your Divorce

While all Illinois divorces and parental responsibility decisions must follow Illinois law, there are many variables. Whether you are involved in a contentious divorce or a relatively friendly one, the following technological innovations may offer some help:

• If protecting your marital finances before you even file for divorce is a worry because you think your spouse has dissipated marital assets in the past and may do so again, you might want to change your online passwords until you can speak to a knowledgeable divorce attorney. While you cannot indefinitely prevent your spouse from accessing marital funds, it could put a temporary hold on the funds until you have a good picture of your legal position. Note—If you are the victim of domestic violence, you should never take this step as it could infuriate your spouse to the point of violence.   
• Put up invisible security cameras if you are concerned your spouse may try to remove marital assets from your home or hassle or threaten you.  
• If you can barely stand being in the same room as your spouse, consider virtual consultations and mediation. Some courts will even allow you to appear virtually for at least some of the divorce and custody hearings.   

 Technology That Can Help During Custody Decisions and After

Technology can be a virtual goldmine where children are concerned. Since communication is crucial during co-parenting and with children, consider the following:

•  Video conferencing and virtual visitation, along with storytelling apps, help children adjust to their parents being apart, or to maintain a connection when distance is a factor.
• Email and instant messaging help parents stay in contact and help children stay in contact with their parents. Email tends to be a more neutral way to discuss drop-off and pick-up issues while also providing solid proof of one parent’s refusal to follow the parenting plan.
• Zoom and Facetime help younger children maintain a connection to the parent they are not with. Parents can read stories to the child, sing them a song, or play simple games. Of course, for this type of communication to be successful, the other parent must cooperate.
• Co-parenting apps provide a shared messaging platform, document-sharing capabilities, and shared calendars, allowing parents to coordinate schedules and share information about their children.
• Older children who have their own phones can benefit from frequent daily text messages. These messages do not have to be lengthy, and for teens, the shorter, the better. Just let your children know you are thinking of them.  
• If you and your ex get along, you might consider a scheduling app that helps parents keep track of their children’s doctor’s appointments, financial expenses, messages, and more. Some apps even have features that help parents negotiate trades in parenting times, automatically updating the shared calendar when a trade is approved.

Contact a Kane County, IL Divorce and Family Law Attorney

Having an experienced Geneva, IL divorce attorney helping you through the process of divorce and allocation of parental responsibility can streamline the process considerably. Before you choose any type of technology to use during your divorce or with your children and your ex after your divorce, speak to your attorney just to ensure there are no potential problems. Contact The Law Office of Matthew M. Williams, P.C. at 630-409-8184 to schedule a meeting with a highly skilled, compassionate family law attorney.