Social media and the Internet in general have made it easier than ever to find information that is often used in divorce cases. For instance, an individual claiming that he had no job nevertheless posted about his employment online and the vacations that he took with a girlfriend. This led to his request for spousal support to be denied by a judge.
One woman was able to win an increase in child support after her lawyer found evidence of her former spouse’s side business on LinkedIn. Posts on social media networks such as vacation photos or mentions of a large bonus at work may be used to prove that an individual is hiding assets or is understating his or her income. Even those who have blocked their spouses may get in trouble if they post pictures or send messages to mutual friends that can be found by the blocked party.
It is rarely worth creating a dating profile while in the process of a divorce. It may be used as evidence of cheating as well as be used as evidence that an individual has been less than honest during discovery. To impress a potential new mate, an individual may overstate income or post pictures of a boat or car that may or may not belong to the individual in question.
Those who are asking for spousal support or other concessions during a divorce may wish to consult with their attorney ahead of time. An attorney may advise a client not to post anything inflammatory or that may be evidence of a large income or other personal wealth.
