How Should I Be Careful With Technology During My Divorce?

 Posted on July 08, 2024 in Divorce

Technology has become an integral part of our lives. Many of us are inseparable from our electronic devices. Research shows that around half of Americans admit to being addicted to their phones, which the average American checks 352 times a day.

It is understandable, therefore, that spouses going through a divorce might not be very cautious about how they use technology. This can lead to negative effects on the divorce process and impact your ability to achieve a favorable outcome.

This article will explore a few ways to be careful when using technology during a divorce. However, the best way to ensure you are using technology safely during your divorce is to seek guidance from an Illinois divorce attorney.

Your Social Media Content Can Be Used Against You

Your posts on social media can be used as evidence in court. Therefore, you will want to be careful about what you post. Imagine, for example, that you are angling for more physical custody, known in Illinois as parenting time. One night, you post photos to Instagram that show you partying with a known violent felon. This can be used in court to show that you do not have a home environment that is safe for a child.

Keep Mum About Your Finances

Your financial situation is likely to play a role in the divorce process. If you have a low income, for example, a court might be more likely to:

• Reduce the amount of alimony or child support you are required to pay, or absolve you from paying at all

• Award you a greater share of the marital assets, which are possessions that belong to both spouses

• Reduce your share of marital debt

If you are not careful in your use of technology, however, you might end up saying something that can be used against you in court.

Suppose, for example, you told the judge you have limited financial means, hoping you will not be required to pay alimony. You then boast in a series of texts to someone who is friendly with your spouse about a new car you just bought, and this person then tells your spouse. Sometimes, private texts can be requested by the opposing legal team during the discovery phase of the trial. If they are, they can not only be used to contradict your financial statements to the court, but they might also lead a judge to award your spouse more marital assets.

Avoid Negativity About Your Co-Parent

Another precaution you should take is not to disparage your co-parent in public or to your child. When making decisions about child custody or parenting time, courts do not look kindly on parents who disparage co-parents to their children. This is interfering in the child’s relationship with the other parent, which the law considers harmful to the child.

If you start slamming your co-parent on social media or in texts to your child, it is possible that it could be brought to the court’s attention and your parenting time with your child could be reduced.

Contact a Batavia, IL Divorce Attorney

At The Law Office of Matthew M. Williams, P.C., we are very familiar with how technology can impact a divorce, and we will be happy to guide you in its safe usage so you can get the most out of the divorce process. Call 630-409-8184 to speak with an experienced Kane County, IL divorce lawyer today.