While posting pictures, sharing updates, or commenting on friends’ posts feels harmless, what you share online can impact your divorce case. Attorneys regularly review social media accounts, and sharing photos of yourself, relationships, new purchases, etc. can raise questions relating to finances, parenting, and credibility.
- Financial Disclosures
New purchases, vacations, expensive nights out, or home remodels can be used to argue that you have more money available than what you have disclosed in your Financial Affidavit.
- Parenting Time
Images or comments that suggest partying, excessive drinking, or unsafe behavior – especially during your parenting time – may be used to question whether or not you are able to act in the best interests of your children, which may impact your parenting time.
- New Relationships
Posting pictures of new relationships of a new partner during a divorce could prompt allegations of cohabitation. In Illinois, a cohabitation claim could affect maintenance that you would otherwise be entitled to.
To protect yourself during your divorce, limit or pause your social media use until your case has been finalized. Avoid posting pictures relating to finances, relationships, or parenting. Tighten your privacy settings, but remember that once content is on the internet, it is not truly private. If you have questions on how your online activity may affect your divorce, consult with your family law attorney.
For more on Ms. Sefton, please visit: www.beermannlaw.com/team/madeline-j-sefton.
