The Role of Social Media and the Internet in California Divorce

Technology and social media are used for a variety of purposes and the list includes divorces as well. Social media is a storehouse of information which can be used as part of an evidence in the courtroom. People should be careful of what they share on social media since the information never gets deleted and can be tracked down anytime. Individuals who go through divorces often vent out their frustration on social media and such conversations can be misused by a third party. Individuals, therefore, should be careful of what they are sharing with others.

Social media has evolved from entertainment applications to serious tools that can be used effectively in divorce proceedings.

Impact of social media

Facebook posts are increasingly being cited in divorce petitions and have become one of the important mediums of evidence finder. Conversations can be used as evidence in divorce proceedings and are being used for better divorces. In a number of separate cases, conversations of individuals involved in divorce proceedings have helped the court to take major decisions.

Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn have become very popular and almost every individual has at least one social media account. Networking has become an integral part of how people communicate and interact with each other. People sometimes tend to post things for fun but it may lead to serious consequences later on.

Social media is a source of crucial evidence

A divorce proceeding is based on evidence and social media has made it easier for individuals to find crucial evidence for many divorces. For example., someone who lies about his/her employment can easily be cross-checked via his/her social media posts and updates. In certain real-life scenarios, it has been proved that social media is a very good source for evidence. In one case, a woman won an increase in child support due to evidence of her husband’s business on LinkedIn. There are many such cases which show how important social media communication has become and why it needs to be taken seriously.

If you are going through a divorce or are about to go through one, remember to never publish anything related to your divorce on social media. This includes properties, businesses, assets or any other evidence that can be used in a courtroom. To be on the safer side, hire a good and experienced lawyer who knows how to handle divorce evidence.

Getting divorced in California can be complicated! Click this link to download our free eBook, 18 Important Things to Know About California Divorce to educate yourself on the process.  

Gerald A. Maggio is an experienced Orange County divorce and family law lawyer and family law attorney located in Irvine, California, serving the Orange County and Riverside areas. Mr. Maggio assists clients with legal issues including divorce, legal separation, divorce mediation, child custody, prenuptial agreements, stepparent adoptions, and other family law issues. Mr. Maggio has practiced law in California since 1999, and founded The Maggio Law Firm in 2005, focusing exclusively on divorce and family law matters.