As social media usage grows, caution should be exercised with others to refrain from using social media as an outlet for frustrated and angry emotions. Social media is often a fun way to reconnect with old friends, however lurking behind this fun is the danger of what you post becoming public information. Anything you post, whether your profile is set to the maximum private settings or not, is potential evidence in court. The opposing party may use your posts, tweets and pictures as evidence against you. Stop and think before you post. Your intentions and actions may be harmless but if the opposing party is scrutinizing you an innocent post may be used as harmful evidence.

For example, if you are going through a divorce or child custody battle it may not be best to vent about your spouse online.  You never know who will see your posts and how they will come across. It may potentially harm your case if the opposing party sees the venting post and brings it into court as evidence. A judge does not have to take context clues into account if simply the post or photograph is presented into evidence. If you have custody of your child on a Saturday night it may not be best to post on Facebook about bar hopping and staying out until two in the morning. Before you post or allow someone to tag you in a post think, “If a judge saw this would it help, hinder or not impact my case?”

Even if you block the opposing party, they can still see your social media profile and posts through mutual friends and public posts. Always exercise caution before posting online. Whatever you post can be made accessible to the public and once you post something on the internet it cannot simply be deleted.

For an experienced family law attorney, who will listen and cares about her clients call Colleen A. White at (904) 242-8828.