There are many different mistakes that people make during the course of their divorce proceedings. From hiding assets to failing to hire the right legal representative, the mistakes you make during your divorce can end up costing you a substantial amount of money. However, one thing that divorced couples often overlook is their social media accounts. Managing your social media presence during your divorce can have a major impact on the outcome of your settlement. To help make sure you know how to properly manage your social media accounts, we recap Chapter 4 of attorney Michelle May O’Neil’s book, What You Need to Know About Divorce in Texas.
Managing Your Social Media Accounts
Do you have a social media account like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, or Instagram? If so, you need to be aware that such accounts can create complicated legal issues that can negatively affect the outcome of your divorce. Far too often, people going through divorce will post updates about what they are doing and where they are at. These people forget, or are unaware, that that their spouse, the judge or other witnesses might see one of these posts and share it with law enforcement, their attorneys, or even members of a jury.
If you don’t want your social media accounts to harm your case, you need to STOP making posts while your case is pending. There is no reason to disregard this advice because even a seemingly innocent post can end up being used against you. Inform your lawyer about all your social media accounts before you start deleting or deactivating them. Deleting your social media accounts too soon can be considered “spoliation of evidence,” which can be used in court to make it look like you had something to hide.
Never post photos of you:
- In Clubs or at Parties
- With Drugs or Alcohol
- With Romantic Interests
If you have social media posts containing any of these things, don’t delete them without first discussing it with your legal representative.
Remember, anything you post on social media isn’t private or confidential, regardless of what your account settings are. Private pages can be subpoenaed and used against you in your case. The bottom line is this: DO NOT use your social media accounts if you are anticipating divorce or while your divorce is still pending.
At O’Neil Wysocki, we can help make sure your interests are protected throughout your divorce proceedings. Let our skilled team of Dallas divorce lawyers get started on your case. Call (214) 348-6723 to schedule your initial consultation today.