Communication applications such as Facebook, tweeter, and Instagram have expanded and are now parts of people’s social lives through which people share events in their day-to-day lives and opinions. As mentioned above, in family law proceedings, Birmingham family law attorneys refer to these sites as the major sources of evidence.
People are investigated by attorneys on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, status updates, comments, and any messages for any information that can be crucial to the case. For example, one can determine the lifestyle of a person, his/her wealth, friends, and even locations he or she frequents at a certain period from the social media activity. It can prove very instrumental in cases such as divorce, matters relating to children, and especially awards of maintenance.
Can Social Media Play a Role in Divorce and, if so, How?
Divorce entails the distribution of property, alimony and other related issues concerning cash. Social media may affect these decisions in a way that comes to light or extra income not previously declared.
For instance, such posts as videos about a luxurious trip, new materialistic items, or living a lavish lifestyle may be evidence of falsification of destitution. The data can be applied in a dispute over the division of property or in opposing an alimony payment.
Furthermore, correspondence by means of the social networks can focus on the interaction of the parties, which can affect decisions regarding alimony or distribution of properties.
What is Social Media’s Capacity on Privacy Protection?
Utilizing the examples of Fifty Shades of Grey and the Bryers case, it was noted that social networking sites can offer solid proof in the context of family law; however, the issue of privacy remains a worry in this context.
Suspects, witnesses or anyone undergoing a case in court, needs to be careful with information shared online. It goes without saying that anything entered to the Internet can be served as evidence, and even if the post does not seem offensive at first sight, it may be considered as teasing in the court.
Counsel opens that under the circumstance one has to change his or her privacy settings and should refrain from posting information on social media especially if the case is still in court. Preventing one from becoming a subject of public domain especially when one is involved in a family law case is very important to warrant privacy and security in dealing with sensitive issues.
What Can Be Done Appropriately While Using Social Media to Support Family Law?
The importance of familiarizing with social media’s effects in family law disputes cannot be overemphasized, particularly for lawyers and clients engaged in such cases. Thus, it can be concluded that the thoughtful attitude towards the content published on social media platforms and their possible consequences is an essential characteristic of the rational usage of social media.
Counsel has been usually told to refrain from posting anything that may be of prejudice to the case. They recommend the parents to engage in social media but only to post Happy moments in their lives and with their children. Given this, the awareness of how social media impacts legal processes is of essence in untangling the various family laws and defending the rightful rights of every party involved.
Conclusion
Social media is involved in family law cases in a more intricate way and is used in multiple aspects throughout virtually all stages of investigation, litigation, and trial, and it can serve as a basis for child custody determinations or division of property and assets in a divorce.
Thus, knowing its effects, and using it in a proper manner, people and lawyers especially engaged in family law can better understand and handle the intricacies of this legal process, so that the social media turns into a force for justice instead of becoming an evil tool which divides people and complicates the process of getting the deserved rights.
Apart from that, if you are interested to know about Navigating Family Law with Expertise and Compassion then visit our Law category.
