Social Media and Divorce

Social Media and Divorce

Social media is great for a lot of things, but if you are facing a divorce, it’s a good time to take a step back and pause before hitting that send button. Better understanding how social media can affect your divorce is a good place to start. The most important step you can take if you are facing a divorce, however, is consulting with an experienced Illinois divorce attorney early in the process. 

Social Media Can Be Used as Evidence in Court

Social media can be a great place to vent for some people, and if you’re going through a divorce, you no doubt need to do some venting. The fact is, however, that venting and social media are a terrible mix. The sentiments you share on social media – regardless of your intent or how fleeting your mood at the time – will live on forever. If these posts can be construed to reflect badly on you as a parent, as a money manager, as a spouse, or as anything else, you can count on them coming back to haunt you during your divorce. 

While deleting your post may make you feel better, one simple screenshot is all that’s needed to memorialize your narrative. In the end, anything you post on social media has the potential to be used as evidence against you in your divorce, and this should be enough to give you pause. 

Illinois Is a No-Fault State, but . . .

Illinois no longer grants fault-based divorces, but this does not mean that fault will play no role in your divorce (and it would be naive to believe otherwise). Courts can consider fault in a variety of ways that include:

• Fault can factor into child custody decisions, including parenting time and parental responsibilities.   
• While fault cannot be a determinative factor in the division of your marital property, the judge can take the dissipation of assets, such as extravagant spending related to a gambling addiction or an affair, into account. 

This is where social media can play a serious role in making a serious point. 

Social Media Cuts Both Ways

While it’s an excellent idea to stay off social media throughout your divorce (you never know what will be held against you), it’s important to recognize that your spouse’s social media is fair game. Even if his or her settings are private, you are very likely to hear about and/or to see a snapshot or two of any posts that might interest you. In order for social media posts to be used in a divorce, they must first be deemed relevant, and this task should be left in your divorce attorney’s capable hands. 

An Experienced Illinois Divorce Attorney Is Standing by to Help

The fact is that social media can directly affect your divorce, and the savvy Illinois divorce attorneys at SAM LAW OFFICE, LLC, dedicate their impressive practice to skillfully guiding cases like yours toward advantageous outcomes. For more information about how we can help you, please don’t hesitate to contact us today.