Why Social Media Can Be Troublesome During a Divorce

When two people decide to file for divorce, there is often a certain amount of acrimony in the background. For one reason or another, they no longer see eye to eye and may decide that the best solution now is to go their own separate ways. This can be difficult to handle if you are directly involved, and you may sometimes struggle to control your emotions. Yet, you have to behave in a certain way if you intend to pursue the matter through the legal system. Specifically, you cannot try to state your case through the court of public opinion, as some people do. What are the implications in this case?

Avoiding the Temptation

Today, most people have access to a ready audience through a variety of different social media accounts. To all intents and purposes, they are publishers and can quickly and easily tell friends and followers about what's going on in their life. It may often be tempting to paint the other person as the enemy during these divorce proceedings and to explain why they are taking this action in the first place. Yet this is never the best approach and could get you into trouble with a Family Law Court in some circumstances.

Keeping Away

Once a case has been put forward for consideration by the court, it is best to stay far away from any social media accounts for the time being. You should certainly not post anything that could be seen as unfavourable, or that could, in fact, identify a party to any court proceeding. A judge could view this as trying to influence the outcome of the case, and you could encounter penalties if you're not careful.

Understanding the Risks

If you're particularly clumsy, you may even open yourself up to a defamation lawsuit, and yes, social media is considered to be a formal method of publication. If children are involved, you need to be even more careful to ensure that you do not compromise the position. After all, the courts are particularly interested in their long-term welfare.

Getting Professional Advice

If you are unsure of how to proceed, engage the services of an experienced family lawyer. Ask them about your social media activities, and they'll give you the correct guidance at all times. In particular, they'll help you to avoid making any miscalculations that could make this entire process all the more demanding.

Reach out to a divorce lawyer to learn more.

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