Social networking sites like Facebook, Google+ and Twitter are great ways to connect people and have some fun! As an Orlando family law lawyer however, I also see the problems these sites have on people’s legal cases such as divorce and paternity matters.
Being Careless
The biggest problem I see in Orlando divorce cases is that people simply get careless. It is funny (and sometimes shocking to me) to see how cautious and concerned people are about what they say, or write in a letter, but then they don’t give the slightest bit of concern about posting an angry message on Facebook for the world to see. I think some of it is because people are conditioned to speak freely on social media, but these comments often get back to the other party in a divorce or paternity case.
For example, it takes just one picture of a new boyfriend or girlfriend on Facebook to create unnecessary legal fees and the loss of goodwill between the parties. Without some cooperation, flexibility and willingness to compromise at times the client’s case turns into a battle and what would normally have settled cooperatively or through mediation gets fought out in court purely for emotional reasons.
Reminders
If you are going through a divorce and active with social media, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Everything you post or tweet is being recorded for everyone to see and can be retrieved and used against you (sometimes even after you delete it or when you think only your “true friends can see it);
- Everything you post or tweet can possibly be used against you in your legal case;
- Each time you post, think about what your spouse is going to think about your comments;
- Even if what you write has no direct impact on your divorce case, if it inflames your spouse, it often means extra legal bills for both of you when lawyers get involved and progress in your divorce case stops or goes backwards.
My Advice
Minimize your posting with social media while your case is pending. At the very least, use extreme caution. I always tell my clients, if they have concerns to call me, but if in doubt, don’t post it; it’s simply not worth the risk!