Individuals who are getting divorced in Arizona or any other location should be aware that their online and mobile phone activities might be used against them. While it is true that many divorces are perfectly amicable, the reality is that some spouses will seek leverage in the form of text messages, Facebook status posts and tweets. Even seemingly innocent activities may be misconstrued by a spouse and his or her attorneys.
Married individuals who are considering getting a divorce might want to take some steps to protect their electronic privacy. This can include changing passwords on their phone, computer and social media accounts and restricting who can see online posts. A person who is considering divorcing his or her spouse needs to be extremely cautious about what he or she texts or posts about.
For many people, this may mean not complaining about one’s marriage or spouse online or in email or text messages. Such behavior may be considered antagonistic and could complicate a divorce proceeding. In addition, one might want to restrict communications that might be construed as being romantic or sexual in nature. Even innocent banter could be twisted by a lawyer to sound more serious than it actually is.
A final area to be concerned about is descriptions of financial activities, including making purchases or investments. Again, the other spouse’s attorneys may use this information to initiate an investigation into financial dealings or accuse a spouse of dissipation (i.e., reckless spending), of assets.
Individuals who are considering getting a divorce may benefit from speaking with an experienced divorce lawyer. An attorney may be able to review the client’s case and make recommendations regarding online activity and mobile phone use while also addressing issues like child custody, property division and spousal support