If you are like 41% of Americans, you have a Facebook account. If you are like 50% of Americans, your first marriage may end in divorce, but if you are like most Americans, you may never have considered the overlap between Social Media and Divorce. While it’s great to keep in contact with family members, colleagues and old friends, the world of Social Media is a veritable minefield when it comes to divorce.
Here are a few tips to avoid setting off some of those harmful mines:
- Do not change your relationship status. Remember, you are not actually divorced until a Judgment of Absolute Divorce is granted.
- Do not start looking up old flames. Wait until your divorce has been finalized before seeking out that former high school sweetheart, even if they know about your circumstances and want to reconnect.
- Do not upload any pictures you wouldn’t want the Judge, or your soon to be ex-spouse’s lawyer to see. That picture of you and your co-workers in a bar could be used as proof of your unreliability as a parent, even if that was your only drink of the night.
- Do not upload any potentially harmful pictures of your spouse or make any derogatory statements about them.You could jeopardize your spouse’s job as a result, and this could create a financial situation that leaves you paying the bigger price in the end.
So, no matter how messy or acrimonious your divorce may be, please keep things civil online to avoid making a tough situation worse.
Divorce litigation has changed drastically given social media, e-mail, and text messages. People share their lives and opinions much more freely, and the information is easy to capture and use. Exhibits typically consist of e-mail and text exchanges, Facebook comments and photos. Do yourself a favor, and think before you hit send.
Do you have other questions about social media and divorce? Let us know. Contact Linda Sorg Ostovitz, Offit Kurman at (301) 575-0381.
ABOUT LINDA SORG OSTOVITZ
Linda Sorg Ostovitz is a family law attorney. Her legal experience spans more than 32 years. In this time, she has served as a leader, educator and advocate. Mrs. Ostovitz holds a prestigious fellowship in the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. Currently, she serves as President for the Business Women’s Network of Howard County, by which she was chosen Woman of Distinction for 2014. Mrs. Ostovitz represents clients in Howard, Anne Arundel, Carroll and Baltimore Counties. Her practice focuses exclusively on divorce litigation and mediation, child custody and access, child support, alimony, business valuation, as well as property and asset distribution. In addition to providing legal representation in court, Mrs. Ostovitz provides mediation services to help families come to a fair and legally-sound conclusion outside of the traditional court proceedings.
ABOUT OFFIT KURMAN
Offit Kurman is one of the fastest-growing, full-service law firms in the Mid-Atlantic region. With 120 attorneys offering a comprehensive range of services in virtually every legal category, the firm is well positioned to meet the needs of dynamic businesses and the people who own and operate them. Our eight offices serve individual and corporate clients in the Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and Northern Virginia markets, as well as the Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York City metropolitan areas. At Offit Kurman, we are our clients’ most trusted legal advisors, professionals who help maximize and protect business value and personal wealth. In every interaction, we consistently maintain our clients’ confidence by remaining focused on furthering their objectives and achieving their goals in an efficient manner. Trust, knowledge, confidence—in a partner, that’s perfect.
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