Social Media May Impact the Disposition of Your Florida Divorce

Marital issues or conflict can be emotionally troubling, and sometimes people tend to act out of character when having issues with their spouse or significant other. Individuals may engage in behavior in which they normally do not, such as going out with friends to bars or nightclubs or spending money irresponsibly. Often, these and similar behaviors are the way that people deal with the emotional stress of conflict with their partners, and reflect a temporary coping mechanism rather than a habitual behavior. Unfortunately, the actions you take in the weeks or month leading up to a divorce can become relevant in a variety of ways, and in some instances may result in a less favorable result as to issues such as alimony or child support.

In the modern world of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, and similar social networking sites, our privacy has been significantly diminished. In fact, we are encouraged to share as much as possible, often creating an idealized version of our lives in which leisure and excitement are highlighted. There are many ways that social media may be detrimental in your divorce, and it is extremely important for parties to a divorce proceeding closely monitor or even suspend or disable their social media accounts. The following are some of the ways in which social media may have an impact on the outcome of your divorce:

Division of Property and Alimony

Florida courts are required to make an equitable distribution of property and also award spousal support based upon a showing of financial need. Social media posts that depict you engaging in expensive activities or frivolous spending may undermine your arguments claiming financial difficulty.

Undermining the Ability to Come to a Reasonable Settlement

For people having issues with their spouse, it may be very tempting to share unflattering details about their lives or habits or discuss marital problems openly with others. This type of behavior is likely to be met with anger or retribution, potentially increasing the level of conflict. This may make it more difficult to negotiate with your spouse, and therefore make it less likely that you are able to come to a mutually agreeable settlement, which could save you significant expenses as well as be better in the long run for everyone.

Child Custody

Courts consider a variety of factors in determining how to award child custody, including looking at each party’s fitness to be a parent. Photos, videos, or other information that tends to show that you are engaging in excessive alcohol use or other irresponsible activity will likely not be viewed favorably by a court when making a child custody determination.

Contact a Tampa Divorce Attorney Today to Schedule a Free Consultation

Social media management is only one aspect of ensuring that your divorce is resolved in a way that is as favorable to your interests as possible. As a result, it is important for anyone considering a divorce to contact an experienced Tampa Bay divorce attorney at All Family Law Group, P.A. by calling 813-816-2232 for a consultation at no charge.

By Lynette Silon-Laguna Google+