There are no denying the benefits that social media has enabled us. From staying in touch with old friends and distant relatives to staying informed and entertained, the advent of social media allows us practically endless communication opportunities. Unfortunately, there are some drawbacks to social media use. Once you put something out there on Facebook, Twitter or some other network, it’s out there – out there for good even if you delete it. That’s why the Tulsa divorce lawyers of Fry & Elder want you to know that if you are going through a divorce, have just filed for a divorce or are thinking about filing for a divorce, you should proceed with extreme caution when using social media.
With that in mind, the our Tulsa divorce lawyers have put together a few things for you to consider when using social media if you find yourself going through one of the above scenarios.
Err on the Side of Caution
Simply put: This means think before you post. Even if you have the best intentions and think what you’re posting is harmless, your ex-spouse, friends and even relatives might not see it that way. On the surface, going out to happy hour with some co-workers is perfectly normal, but it’s probably something you’re not going to want to tweet about or put up on Instagram.
Don’t be Negative
Simply put: Don’t badmouth anybody. Social media leads to a lot of impulsive behavior and outbursts, which is definitely not what you need if you’re going through a divorce or a contested child custody battle. This means absolutely don’t badmouth your ex, a judge, or the opposing attorney. Your social media posts can be documented and admitted into court. In fact, Family Lawyer Magazine contends that most courts adhere to the policy that “social media is discoverable for three main reasons; 1. It does not violate any privacy as there is no expectation of privacy 2. It can be relevant 3.It does not violate any privilege.”
Check Your Privacy Settings and Think Twice About Who You Friend
It is amazing that many social media users, let alone those going through a divorce, don’t know their privacy settings. If you are using social media, at the very least, make sure that what you’re posting is not being seen by the general public. Also, if you are going through a divorce or heated custody battle, there just might be chance that your ex has enlisted someone to “friend” or “follow” you on a social media site. If you don’t know the person or are unsure about their intentions, don’t accept their request.
Factoring in all of the above information and your present situation, there might be a chance you will just want to logoff and take a vacation from social media for a while with which the Tulsa divorce lawyers of Fry & Elder say is perfectly OK.
Experience the Fry & Elder Difference
Together, the Tulsa divorce lawyers of Fry & Elder make up one of the most elite legal teams in the state. Robert G “Hap” Fry Jr. continues to prove the he arguably is the best Tulsa divorce lawyer, as he was honored as the Lawyer of the Year for Family Law in Tulsa for 2016 by Best Lawyers® and has been selected as an Oklahoma Super Lawyer® every year since 2007.
Fellow Fry & Elder attorneys, James R. Elder, M. Shane Henry, and Aaron D. Bundy, along with Fry, are AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®, which is a testament to the fact that a lawyer’s peers rank him or her at the highest level of professional excellence.
Additionally, T. Luke Barteaux, along with Henry and Bundy each have been selected as Super Lawyers® Rising Stars™. Collectively, these five have helped establish Fry & Elder as one of the top divorce law firms in nation. The U.S. News & World Report has named Fry & Elder to exclusive list of Best Law Firms from 2014-2016.
The firm recently hired attorneys Katie Egan, Lorena Rivas and Melissa Fell to help round out the staff. In addition to Oklahoma, Egan is licensed to practice law in Connecticut and New York, while Rivas is bilingual and will focus on Oklahoma immigration law and family law.
While the firm continues to be known for its excellence in family law, Fry & Elder has grown and expanded its legal reach into Oklahoma criminal law, personal injury law and immigration law services. Contact Fry & Elder today to set up a personal consultation with a proven, experienced and acclaimed Tulsa divorce lawyer.
I feel like people underestimate their visibility online. I’ve seen a surprising amount of stories of people who get fired from their jobs because they thought it would be okay to post inebriated pictures of themselves or badmouth their employer online, only to realize that their employer can see those posts. I can see similar things happening when going through a divorce, because, as you pointed out, what you post online is public and can always be used in court. Even if you are careful about your privacy settings, I feel that taking a vacation from social media during a divorce would be the best option.
I have a buddy who is going through a rough patch in his marriage, and he’s actually even considering a divorce. I liked these tips, and I agree wholeheartedly with the idea that you should think before you post. Once you post, it’s not going to disappear, so caution must be taken. Thanks for sharing this post, as this will be very helpful for my friend.
I have a friend who is currently working with a family law attorney and could definitely learn a lot of this post, because of his social media posts. I’m not sure whether or not he thinks that his posts are harmless, but I don’t think that they could be helping his divorce situation much. He is always being negative, especially about his to-be-ex-wife, and so I would definitely say that impulsive behavior is his issue. I also think that if he realized that what he posts on social media could be used in court, that he would probably stop posting all of the negative things that he is posting.
I think it is smart to not be negative over social medial because it can cause all sorts of problems. You don’t want to be complaining and you also want to make sure that there isn’t anything on social media that is going to be brought up later in the court. I think it is smart to make it as professional as possible because you don’t want to have issues with the other person in the case.
I am glad to know how important it is that you be careful what you say on social media about your divorce. Filing for a divorce, I would agree would be best done with the assistance of an attorney. If children are involved especially, having legal advice could really be of assistance.
This is really a great post..
These days divorce attorneys collect the evidences from social networking opportunities in the past five years. The purposes and consequences of searches of social media produce rich information which can be used by and against litigants on trial or in settlement negotiations.
Through this advocates can delve for treasure on the social media websites and in digital communications, as well as protect our clients from the pitfalls to which they may expose themselves
That’s really interesting that social media has become such a big thing with divorces. It makes sense since there could possibly be some incriminating evidence on either parties social media profiles. If I ever find myself in this situation, I’ll make sure to be extra careful with privacy settings and listen to what my attorney tells me to do. Thanks for the awesome divorce advice!
I hadn’t even thought about what I post on social media. That is a really good tip while going through a divorce. I will do my best not to be negative and to help that I will just not post anything on social media.