If You Are Going Through a Divorce – Stay Off the Internet
Going through a divorce is emotionally exhausting. It is perfectly normal to be worried about the outcome of the legal process or to want to vent to anyone willing to listen. Both can lead directly to the internet – which is a bad place to be if you are in the middle of a divorce. Fort Worth divorce attorney Jon Boyd explains why you need to stay off the internet during a divorce.
The Age of the Internet
It’s 2020 – everyone uses the internet for just about everything. Whether you are 25 or 75, you probably have a smartphone, computer, or tablet within arms reach most of the day. When you need information about someone or something, you look it up on the internet. When you need to communicate with someone for business purposes, you probably email them or use one of the numerous communication platforms on the internet. You likely even send photos and update friends and family through social media. In short, the internet has a foothold in the life of most Americans and that isn’t likely to change anytime soon. While the internet may be a positive influence in other areas of your life, it is most definitely a negative influence for those going through a divorce.
Don’t DIY
Along with opening up a world of information at our fingertips, and making communication across the globe much easier, the internet has also put a plethora of “Do-It-Yourself” legal documents out into the public domain. When faced with filing for divorce, or responding to a divorce action, it can be tempting to try the DIY route. The idea of having to pay an attorney can seem overwhelming during a time when you are already overwhelmed. The next thing you know you are searching online for DIY forms and, even worse, legal advice. While it is perfectly normal to want immediate answers and a cost-free divorce, neither are likely in your best interests. There are some couples who have very little assets/debts to divide, no minor children, and can truly agree to everything who can get through a divorce without the assistance of attorneys. For the vast majority of the people going through a divorce, however, experienced legal advice is crucial to protecting your rights to property, children, and future support. DIY forms you encounter online are frequently riddled with errors and fail to cover everything that needs to be covered. Advice you encounter online can be even more detrimental. Therefore, if you are going through a divorce, resist the urge to turn to the internet for legal forms and advice.
The Danger in Disseminating
The other potential problem with the internet comes from the dissemination of information. Let’s face it – we all feel the need to vent when we feel hurt, angry, confused, or betrayed. Divorce often brings out all of those feelings. In the internet age, that need to vent often results in taking to social media. If your soon to be ex just did something that made you furious, your first reaction might be to post what he/she did on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or some other social media platform. If you are feeling down about the end of your marriage, you might also be tempted to post details about how you and your spouse got to this point. Regardless of why you are thinking of posting on the internet, don’t do it if you are in the middle of a divorce (or contemplating one). Something you say may be misconstrued or taken out of context by your spouse’s attorney and used against you in court. For example, you might be feeling particularly sad and say something that, taken out of context, makes you sound mentally unstable or even suicidal. Conversely, things you actually do say could be used to cast you as a vindictive parent who is incapable of working with your children’s other parent to co-parent your kids post-divorce. The bottom line is that nothing good can come from taking to the internet during a divorce so when the temptation to do so rears its head, resist!
Contact a Fort Worth Divorce Attorney
If you have additional questions or concerns about the Texas divorce process, contact an experienced Fort Worth divorce attorney at Boyd Family Law to schedule your appointment today.