4 digital mistakes that can affect your divorce

For many of us, rarely a day – or even an afternoon – goes by when we do not go online. Digital interactions play a significant role in most people’s lives, and these interactions can affect our offline lives.

For instance, if you are getting a divorce, you should understand that the way you use email, digital assets, social media and Google can have a very real impact on the legal process.

1. 1. Badmouthing or threatening your soon-to-be-ex – Some people turn to Facebook to vent about an ex or send threatening emails when they are angry or frustrated during a divorce. They might think these exchanges are anonymous or can be easily explained away or deleted. But the fact is, everything you write online during your divorce has the potential to come back to haunt you, so choose your words wisely. Before you write anything, imagine a judge reading your statements out loud in court.
      1. Overlooking or concealing digital assets – Digital assets may not be something we can hold in our hands, but they can have real value. As such, it is crucial to identify and address assets like cryptocurrency, digital movie and music libraries, websites and even virtual property.
      2. Sharing certain information on social media – The information people share online does not always reflect reality. And in some cases, it can send a very different message than the one we share in person. In the context of divorce, this can have harsh consequences. For instance, if someone requests spousal support but then shares pictures of themselves on lavish vacations, any argument that he or she is financially disadvantaged could be worth challenging. For some, stepping away from social media altogether is advisable.
      3. Believing everything you read – While there is a lot of good, valuable information online, there is also a lot of misleading and inaccurate information. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to know the difference. Rather than turn to a search engine or take anecdotal statements as fact during a divorce, consider consulting someone with a relevant background and knowledge of your specific case.

Our online lives, property and interactions can affect real-world events, like divorce. As such, avoiding these four mistakes could make it easier to navigate your divorce peacefully.