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Dodd & Dodd Attorneys, PLLC Louisville Kentucky

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If You Are Considering a Divorce in Louisville You Need a Social Media Policy

If Considering a Divorce in Louisville You Need a Social Media Policy

Are you contemplating or beginning to plan the end of a marriage?  If you are considering a divorce in Louisville you need a social media policy to protect your best interests.

Most of our clients today have multiple social media accounts.  It doesn’t matter if it is a somewhat “public” platform such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram or a more “temporary” or private venue such as Snapchat or WatsApp.  Social media is presently a strong source of evidence in Louisville divorce cases and you need to give serious consideration to all posts throughout the divorce process.

Divorce is obviously a very emotional, stressful and often frustrating experience.  Even those who enter the process in seemingly complete agreement and with the best of intentions will have stressful moments.  You need human connection, especially in times such as the isolation of a pandemic we all face.

However, many aspects of your divorce involve crucial issues including but not limited to child custody and parenting time, as well as the disclosure and division of assets and debts.  You don’t want an errant post or the seemingly innocent post in your circle of family and friends to come back against you in Court.

If you are considering or are in the process of a divorce in Louisville you need a social media policy which will protect your goals and objectives.  Your posts and the posts of others can and will affect your interests during a divorce.  What policy should you institute for yourself and your extended family and friends regarding social media?

If you have children and wish to pursue child custody and parenting goals it is important to make sure there isn’t anything to suggest you would be a bad parent.  Anyone can take a picture of you, even when you are unaware and post it.  The internet is not private, and you should approach each and every post, text, voicemail and e-mail as if it will be shown to the Court and read by your family, friends, co-workers, neighbors and even your children (if not now, in the future).

Avoid ever mentioning anything about your former spouse.  Anything you write can be presented by opposing counsel as evidence against your character or your ability to be a good parent.  It may also be construed in an attempt to question your support of the relationship between your former spouse and your children.

Now is not the time to post anything extravagant or which reflects you spending a lot of money.

It is best not to pour out your frustrations or woes or anything which could be twisted to question your mental or emotional stability.  Unfortunately, this should even exclude any mention of counseling.

If you are considering or are in the process of a divorce in Louisville you need a social media policy to follow.  Most people are unwilling to avoid social media altogether (the ideal solution).  For example, it can be really helpful to get your feelings out in writing, but never post immediately.  Write the post as a separate draft and set it down for 30 minutes to an hour.  Ask yourself “Am I comfortable if the Judge, my ex, my family and the world get to read this post?”  If not, you probably shouldn’t post.