In this article, you can discover…
- Whether social media posts are admissible as evidence in a California divorce.
- If it’s ever ok or safe to vent about your ex or your divorce online.
- How to avoid doing serious damage to your divorce case on social media.
Are Social Media Posts Legally Admissible As Evidence During A Divorce Case In California?
Yes. To put it bluntly, get off of social media. You do not need to be on social media while you are going through a divorce. It is very, very easy for someone to paint you as a horrible person by selecting specific social media posts.
Your ex-spouse does not need to know you have a new boyfriend or girlfriend. They do not need to know how often you drink. They do not need to know what you’re doing when the kids aren’t with you. But if you post online, you are automatically sharing this information with them, and making it available for them to scrutinize and use against you.
While a good attorney can cast doubt as to the meaning or implications of a social media post, the safest thing to do is not post at all. Get off of social media until your divorce is settled and finalized.
Is It Ever Legally Safe To Vent About Your Ex On Social Media During A Custody Battle?
No, this is never legally safe. Even if you have your ex blocked, you may be friends with someone who knows them, and your posts could be shown to your ex or sent to them as a screenshot. Anything you post can become a problem and can be used to make you look bad. That’s just the truth.
Get off of social media during your divorce. This is especially true if you are going through a custody battle, and may even extend beyond your divorce if the dynamics with the other parent are especially poor. To be supremely safe legally, until you and the other parent are in a good place and are no longer fighting over divorce or custody matters, stay off of social media.
What Are The Potential Legal Consequences Of Posting During A Divorce?
Anything and everything you post on social media can and will be used to make you look like a bad spouse or a bad parent. If you post a photo of yourself at a baseball game with a beer in your hand, post a photo of yourself at a barbecue with a beer in your hand, and post a photo of you eating out with a glass of wine next to your plate, the opposition can use this to claim you’re an alcoholic. Even if those are the only three drinks you’ve had all year.
This may sound extreme, but the other party’s lawyer can and will use your posts to paint an extreme picture of you. Get off of social media during your divorce.
Still Have Questions? Ready To Get Started?
For more information on social media and divorce in California, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (310) 351-4745 today.
Attorney Jordana Better is an accomplished, respected family law attorney serving California. Since 2016, she’s helped clients just like you avoid the devastating pitfalls of social media use during a divorce, helping them protect their reputations, legal interests, and parental rights along the way.
Have questions, or in need of legal help? Reach out to the Law Office of Jordana N. Better for an initial consultation today.
