Social media has become an essential aspect of daily life for many people in Indiana. It is a platform that encourages the sharing of news, feelings and opinions, activities and business. It is also a place where separating couples air their dirty laundry, search for evidence to use against their spouses in divorce court and post things to upset their ex-partners. Before you get to spying or posting information to knock your ex-spouse off her or his square, you may want to consider why it is prudent to watch what you do and say on social media during a divorce.
If you are not careful, your social media activity can damage your credibility and derail your divorce and child custody case. Your online activities can become admissible as evidence in the courtroom, even if what you post is not true. Though you have the right to use your social media profiles in any way you see fit as long as you remain in compliance with the site’s terms, when it comes to divorce, the judge may rule otherwise.
Bad mouthing your partner could prove disastrous
You and your spouse may have mutual friends on social media who enable you to keep tabs on each other’s social and personal activities, even if you are not on speaking terms. If you post unsavory remarks or threats about your spouse online and he or she gets wind of it, he or she can have the courts subpoena your online activity to build a case to discredit your character and credibility. If there are pending child custody issues between you and your spouse, the courts may use your social media activity to question how you treat your kids’ other parent out of earshot.
No matter how much you may want to put your children’s other parent on blast or disrespect her or him because you feel upset with the situation, try to keep your thoughts and feelings private and off social media. Your character and credibility are a couple of the many things the courts look at when determining child custody matters. A bad or negative online persona, especially on social media, could damage your case.