Getting a divorce doesn’t curtail your right to speak your mind. However, it is generally a good idea to consider the implications of anything that you post online during or after a divorce proceeding. A West Virginia judge may decide to deny custody or increase the amount of alimony that you owe based on what can be seen in a picture or what is written in a post.
Nothing truly gets taken down
While you may be able to hide or delete a post from your timeline, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t still exist. A savvy social media user may take a screenshot of a picture before it is deleted and share it with friends or your spouse. It’s also possible that your spouse may use a friend’s social media account to get around any privacy settings used.
False narratives abound
You might think nothing of posting a picture of your most recent vacation. However, your spouse may see your attempt to relax on a tropical island as a sign that you’re hiding assets. If your child is also in the picture, your spouse might claim that you’re trying to keep that child away. While these claims may be disingenuous, there is no telling what a judge may believe. Therefore, it may be best to simply stop posting until the divorce is finalized.
Think of the children
If your kids are old enough to use a computer, they may be able to find and view all of the nasty things that you said about your spouse. This may cause mental distress or other issues that call into question your fitness as a parent. Ultimately, it may be enough to jeopardize your custody or visitation rights.
Staying off of social media is likely the best way to prevent issues that might make it harder to negotiate a divorce settlement in a timely manner. If you must post content online, be sure that it is free of anything that might offend or disparage your spouse or kids.
