When Divorce is Caused by High Tech Cheating

Social media is an increasing source of marital problems, which can lead to divorce. Even a seemingly harmless photograph posted on Facebook can push a couple into a break-up. In addition, Facebook postings, tweets, texts, and emails appear regularly as evidence in divorce trials. An astonishing number of people – while they are married -sign up on dating service websites or advertise themselves as available for physical liaisons on websites, without considering that someone they know is going to see that and tell the spouse.At Puhl and Berbarie, located at MyFamilyLawyer.net, we encourage all clients to step away from all aspects of social media, and to carefully guard the use of mobile phones, until their family law problems have been resolved.There are a multitude of problems you can create for yourself by engaging in social media communications before and during your divorce – even after your divorce, with respect to matters involving your children. For openers, your cell phone records are retained by your carrier and can be subpoenaed by your spouse. Unlike land line phone records, mobile phone carriers record information including every number you called (or from which you received a call), the time, the date, and the length of the call. This provides your spouse a wealth of information to use against you.Texting is a dangerous practice you should avoid before and during your divorce proceeding. Too many couples fight by text, not thinking that texts are easily saved and printed. You should expect to see all texts you have sent your spouse – particularly those sent in anger – in the courtroom. This, of course, is also true for all emails with your spouse and with others which might be relevant to your case. It is not unusual for children to review a parent’s texts and emails, or their cell phone photos, only to discover the parent is engaged in an extra marital relationship. That’s a brutal way for a child to learn that his family is about to disintegrate.Everyone knows how quickly information flies around on Facebook. It can be especially dangerous because other people can post not only photos of you, but information about the restaurant where you are having lunch, or the lounge where you are having a cocktail. People have been tagged when they are thousands of miles away from home. Your best bet is to take a social media vacation, so to speak, if you are thinking about divorce or already involved in a divorce. You are welcome to contact our family law attorneys at MyFamilyLawyer.net to talk about things like this and to get other information you need to achieve the best possible outcome in your case.