Child custody battles can be very intense. People will say hurtful things and express hostility towards their spouses or soon-to-be exes. No parent is perfect and no matter how hard you try, you will miss the mark. While children can be forgiving, your ex won’t and he or she will use every argument possible, including social media conversations, to win the child custody battle. Some divorcees find themselves in argumentative and legally risky situations due to details posted on Social Media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram. It doesn’t matter how delicate your situation is, a Salt Lake City child custody attorney can keep you afloat and help you find the peace of mind you and your family deserve during the divorce process.
Don’t delete your posts
Why is that? It can be used against you in court. Deleting evidence means you are concealing it and this is called spoliation. Even when the evidence on the post is not that crucial, it’s still best you keep the post as originally published. The court may argue that the reason why the evidence was deleted is That it didn’t support your case. Also, some sanctions may apply and you may end up paying your ex-spouse’s attorney fees. In conclusion, don’t deactivate any social media accounts or delete publications. If you already have, talk to your Salt Lake City child custody attorney.
Keep your conversations with your ex
This is something that may help you in court, especially if your ex said things that may advance your divorce case. It’s tempting to be upset and reply to the hurtful comments but rather keep calm and save the evidence. Screenshots work just fine. E-mail them to your attorney and he or she will figure out what to do with it. Remember your ex may delete these posts or comments later on and you will have no way to prove the things said unless you saved the conversations or comments. Your ex may argue in court that you have not been very cooperative during the child custody process but if you have a history of reaching out and cooperating, whether online or in the text, you have more chances of discrediting these fallacious arguments. It never hurts saving this info in a computer folder.
Don’t bribe
Let the Court decide what’s best for the children. When you get involved by offering parenting concessions for your financial advantage, the Court may think you are bribing your ex. Don’t promise or demand anything in writing, especially related to your finances. Some parents agree to child custody matters as long as the other partner accepts their financial demands. It doesn’t work that way. An attorney will help negotiate a just settlement in a more civilized manner.
Stay calm
When the child custody battle gets intense to try to stay calm and limit your communication with your ex. Request that all communication is conducted in writing. Act in a friendly manner even if you feel like yelling. The picture and information you share in your posts should be friendly. Social media has become a place for people to vent but it should not be that way. It’s not good displaying your private life out there, especially if you are involved in a difficult child custody battle.