If you’re involved in a family law case, you need to be aware of how your actions and words can affect the outcome. And, in our modern age, this is especially true regarding posts on your social media accounts.
If you’re in the middle of a dispute involving divorce, child custody, child support, asset division, or a prenuptial agreement, and you’d like to speak with a family law attorney, reach out to the Law Office of Karen S. Brown, serving those in Ventura County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, and Los Angeles County.
Social Media and Your Image
Like it or not, your image on social media reveals a lot about your life and the kind of person you are. And, if you’re trying to balance a family law issue and social media posts, know that both judges and attorneys will be looking for any evidence they can find that demonstrates your character. If you’re wondering, “How can social media affect my family law case?”, you need to consider all interpretations—right or wrong—that may be inferred from your posts. Lastly, making insensitive posts can also cause hard feelings, which might make your ex-spouse more combative and less willing to compromise.
How Social Media Can Affect Your Family Law Case
It’s important to know how you can protect yourself on social media when going through a divorce. One consideration that often comes up surrounds alimony and how a judge determines how much is owed. For example, if you’re requesting alimony and at the same time are posting pictures of a new car you just purchased, a judge may question your need for supplemental income. Additionally, if you’re regularly posting images of someone new you’re dating, this could cause unnecessary angst between you and your ex and make the entire process more difficult. Social media posts can also play a role in child custody decisions. When making these determinations, a judge will look to see what kind of parent you are and whether you can provide a stable and safe home for your child. If you have posts on social media where you’re acting recklessly or irresponsibly, this could be used against you.
Steps to Take to Protect Yourself
Even if you feel you employ safe practices on your social media accounts, it’s still a good idea to limit what you post and take the following steps:
Take a break: Consider pausing all activity on social media during your case. Any time a client asks, “Should I post on social media during my divorce?”, the answer is almost always no. Even if you think it’s a fairly innocuous post, it still has the potential to be interpreted the wrong way.
Don’t post anything about your children: Even though most posts about children are benign, it’s usually best to stop any posts about them.
Don’t display your finances: Don’t post pictures of a recent vacation or new purchases, especially if you’re negotiating alimony payments, child support, or asset division.
Don’t talk about your ex or any new partners: You want to maintain an upstanding image of yourself during this process, and engaging in spiteful posts about your ex will not help. Similarly, if you are dating someone new, you don’t want to flaunt this in front of your ex or any mutual friends that may see it.
Double check your privacy settings: You should always have your personal accounts set to private, but this is crucial during a legal case.
Consider unfriending or unfollowing certain people: If you’re connected through social media to certain people who may share info with your ex, consider unfriending or unfollowing them.
Trusted Guidance when You Need It Most
If you need an experienced divorce attorney or general family law attorney, call the Law Office of Karen S. Brown to make an appointment. Karen S. Brown serves those in Los Angeles County and surrounding cities, including Beverly Hills, Encino, Studio City, Hancock Park, Santa Monica, South Bay, Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, Santa Monica, Torrance, and Long Beach, California.