How Social Media Can Affect Your Child Custody Case

Are you a frequent Twitter user? Can’t live without checking Facebook every five minutes? If so, you’re not alone. Many Florida residents are addicted to social media. However, if you’re in the middle of a divorce and arguing with your soon-to-be ex-spouse over child custody, then it’s recommended that you stay away from social media until everything has been finalized.

In recent years, social media has become a powerful tool in the field of family law. A survey showed that 81 percent of members of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers use social media to find evidence against their clients’ ex-spouses. But you may be thinking that

your posts on Facebook are innocent, right? The truth is that your every move on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and dating sites is being scrutinized.

What Does Social Media Show Lawyers?

Those seemingly innocent photos on Facebook show more than you think. Here’s what ex-spouses and their lawyers are looking to dig up on your social media accounts:

• Photos of you on vacations or posing with new cars. If you’re complaining about not receiving enough child support or not being able to pay it, but have enough money to spend on lavish trips and luxury items, then the courts aren’t going to take you seriously.
• Photos of you partying. Drug and alcohol use paints a negative picture of you as a parent, even if you party seldomly. If you want to gain custody of your children, don’t post these types of photos.
• Signing up for dating or hookup sites. You shouldn’t be doing this before your divorce is finalized. If you truly want custody of your children, you need to show that you are responsible and committed to raising them, not looking for a new boyfriend or girlfriend.
• Posting about a new boyfriend or girlfriend. Again, this is frowned upon by the courts when your main goal should be to be a good parent.
• Posting nude or provocative photos of yourself. Courts are going to think negatively of a parent who is acting in an immoral way online. Keep these types of photos to yourself.
• Posting about your night out without the kids when they were in your custody. If you have the kids over the weekend, but your Facebook posts show you at the beach or partying with friends, the courts are going to question your ability to parent.
• Posting about the divorce or child custody case, your former spouse, decisions, lawyers, etc. This isn’t wise. The dissolution of a marriage is highly personal and should not be posted on social media for everyone to see. Don’t put this out in the open, especially when lawyers can see the name-calling and badmouthing you’re doing in your posts.

Get Legal Help for Your Child Custody Case

If you’re battling with your former spouse over child custody, make sure the odds in your favor. If you’re a frequent social media user, you need legal advice to ensure that not oversharing on Facebook or Twitter.

Withdrawing completely from social media during a divorce can be quite a challenge, but it’s something you need to consider doing if you want to increase your chances of being awarded custody of your children. Don’t give your ex-spouse ammunition to use against you. Get legal representation from the Dade City family law attorneys at Madonna Law Group. Contact us by calling (800) 557-0411.

Resource:

www.americanbar.org/content/dam/aba/administrative/family_law/childcustody.authcheckdam.pdf