People communicate much differently than they did in the past. Most people haven’t written a handwritten letter in years. A lot of people rely solely on their cell phones and no longer have a landline. The use of social media and other electronic forms of communication have exploded in recent years.
Unfortunately, electronic messages can be easily tracked and obtained for use in court. According to the American Association of Matrimonial Lawyers, information from social media sites was used in more than 80 percent of divorce cases in the last year.
People in Connecticut and others elsewhere may think that a message or photo that they post to Facebook or another social media site is harmless. However, it could have a detrimental effect on a person’s child custody case or other divorce-related matters. People involved in a family law issue who aren’t careful could be handing over evidence to their estranged spouse without even knowing it.
People should think twice before sending any kind of electronic message, especially if they are angry. It is best to have a 24-hour cooling off period before sending a message. If people are really upset it may be best for them to write down their feelings with a pen and paper.
Going through a divorce has never been easy, but nowadays people need to be even more careful. It can be difficult working through issues related to divorce. However, in order for people to get what they want, it is best to be cautious throughout the entire process.
Source: The Washington Times, “Email, texting can become a WMD during a divorce or custody case,” Myra Fleischer, April 23, 2013
