The adage claims that a picture is worth a thousand words, but in divorce proceedings, a picture can be worth thousands of dollars. Posting a picture to Facebook of you and your friends at the local watering hole on a Tuesday may seem innocent enough, but in the hands of your spouse’s attorney, this may be evidence of a parent who does not care for their children on a school night. Numerous out-of-context statements, pictures, private messages, and other Facebook posts may have huge implications on your Massachusetts divorce.
Here is a list of Facebook postings that can be used as evidence by an attorney in your divorce:
- Images
- Posts
- Private messages
- Comments
- Likes and liked pages
These are just some of the “uploads” that your spouse’s lawyer can use as pieces of evidence in front of the judge.
So What Are Your Options for Dealing with Facebook During a Divorce?
- Gather context for sensitive private conversations or photos.
Having testimonials from friends or family members for pictures that appear negative can help your case. Additionally, printing out the context of sensitive Facebook messages can help a judge see the full picture of an argument if your spouse chooses to be “selective” with those messages in court, a common trick many spouses use to gain sympathy with the judge. - Turn your Facebook settings to private.
While your spouse may have already gathered your pictures or messages, turning your settings to private can help you protect your privacy in case a lawyer comes sniffing into your account. - Do not delete any pictures or messages.
If you delete messages or pictures from Facebook during the litigation process, it could be seen as destruction of evidence. It is better to deal with the ramifications of pictures than be penalized for spoliation of evidence. - Stay off Facebook until your divorce proceedings are finalized.
If you continue to post images or messages on social media talking about your divorce, your spouse, or how you are dealing with your divorce, these things can all be used against you should they fall into the wrong hands. Stay off of social media for a while, and turn to journaling if you need a release.
Ultimately, the best thing you can do for yourself is to hire a professional Massachusetts divorce attorney. Divorce is difficult, but going through it alone will only make it worse. At Miller Law Group, P.C. our attorneys can walk you through your divorce to help you transition into this new stage of your life.
If you have any questions about divorce proceedings or how Facebook can affect your divorce, call (888) 874-2142 for a free consultation concerning your case.