Any family law proceeding can be an extremely emotional experience that may cause you to lose all sense of reason. Parties have recently used social media (such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, etc.) to express some of these sentiments. Social media is a wonderful way to share your life with friends and followers, but it should not be used to discuss your divorce or paternity case. If you are in Waukesha, a Waukesha divorce lawyer can help you.
During a family law case, you should be extremely cautious about what you publish on social media. Everything you publish on social media is public and can be used against you in court. Having your account on “lockdown” or “private” does not always imply that it is private. Your “private” posts can be screenshotted and sent to the other party and their attorney by friends, relatives, or followers.
Things You Must Not Post on Social Media While Your Divorce Case is Still Pending:
- Anything Pertaining to Your Legal Matter.
Remember that you may not be thinking clearly at the moment and that even though what you publish seems perfectly logical to you, it can be misinterpreted and end up causing you more trouble than you intended. No matter how you meant the message to be interpreted, whatever you post on social media can be used against you in court.
- Insulting the Other Party, Threatening Them, or Using Foul Language.
Although you may believe that making fun of the other party will make them “give in” to your demands, the court may view you as abusive, harassing, irrational, or unreliable. In fact, the other party may seek a harassment order against you if you make threats against or disparaging remarks about them while the proceedings are ongoing.
- Extra Money or Part-Time Work.
The court may assume that you have the money to pay child support, property division payments, or attorney fees if you publish a picture of a recent trip to Turks and Caicos when you are claiming to be unable to pay the opposing party in a divorce or child support case. Please refrain from posting on Facebook that you have an alternative revenue source, such as a cash-only business, if you claim that you cannot look for work due to various circumstances and cannot pay the other party. Not only could the court assume you have an income, but it will also need you to prove it, which may have tax repercussions.
