How Can My Online Profiles Impact My Illinois Divorce?

 Posted on November 16, 2023 in Divorce

Long ago, people could manage their lives privately, but that is harder to do nowadays. With social media networks becoming so commonly used throughout society, with users of all ages and walks of life, it is an almost unavoidable fact that whatever you do and wherever you go, there will be documentation of it accessible to countless people. If you are not a particularly private person and you live a fairly typical life, this should not be much cause for concern.

But if you need to control the information that other people can use against you, if, for example, you are about to enter into divorce proceedings with a spouse you do not trust to play fairly, you might need to alter your internet conduct. A Naperville, IL, divorce lawyer can explain what information might put your chances of a favorable divorce settlement at risk and what you can do about it.

Should I Be Concerned About My Social Media Footprint?

When you get a divorce, things might seem complicated. You suddenly need to reach agreements with someone you are ending a relationship with about very important matters like:

• Who will get our family home?
• Where will our children spend most of their time?
• Who has the right to make important decisions for our children?
• What will happen with our financial assets?

While the matters you need to resolve with your future ex can be complex, the popularity of social media networks can make it all seem even more complicated. The internet likely has a lot of evidence about you and how you spend your life, and even if the picture that comes together from social media posts is not accurate, it can certainly cast doubt against you in court.

One reason for this is it is extremely common for people to try to present themselves online as living their dreams, even if the reality is far from that. You might experience financial difficulties but prefer posting pictures online to show that you are thriving. You may post pictures of yourself wearing nice clothes and accessories or selfies next to luxury homes and cars, even if they are not yours. This could sway how a court would decide regarding spousal support, otherwise known as alimony. You might even need these payments in order to make ends meet, but if the story that is told online about you is one of luxury, you may not be granted payments.

You may be an extremely dedicated parent, but you enjoy posting pictures showing that you are the life of the party. Even if for 3 weeks straight you are home and put your kids to bed and get them up and ready for school the next day, but what you post are pictures from one rare wild night out with friends, this could give the impression that you are not as responsible as you say and maybe the children would be better off with their other parent.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Dupage County, IL, Divorce Lawyer

If you are headed toward divorce and need guidance regarding how to best conduct yourself on social networks, a Naperville, IL, divorce attorney can help sort out some of the confusion and guide you on your best path forward. Please call Pesce Law Group, P.C. at 630-352-2240 to schedule a free consultation.