Digital technology can create several opportunities for your spouse to spy on your privacy during divorce proceedings. It is therefore advisable to take some steps to protect your private information so that it is not used against you during divorce hearings. This article discusses some of those proactive measures that you can take.
Change All Your Passwords
Some couples give one another the passwords to their online accounts. Once things go wrong in the marriage, one of the spouses can use those passwords to gather evidence to use during divorce hearings. For instance, he or she can download receipts of all your online purchases to try to prove that you have the ability to pay higher amounts of child support. Protect yourself by changing all your passwords.
Disable Any Active Automatic Logins
It may make no difference if you change your passwords but leave automatic logins active. Disable any sites that you have previously granted permission to keep you logged in. You should also erase the cookies on your computer so that all saved passwords are removed. This will limit how much access your spouse has to your online accounts on a computer you may both have access to.
Cancel All Shared Services
Many couples share some online accounts such as subscriptions to movie downloading sites. Those shared services can provide a source of private information (such as your account details) in case your spouse is interested in getting that information. It is therefore advisable to discontinue those shared services in favour of subscriptions in your own name. This will protect you from the prying eyes of your spouse during divorce hearings.
Check the Security of Your Wireless Devices
Your smart phone may be a goldmine of personal information since it connects your social life with your work life. Secure that smartphone and all other wireless devices with a PIN code so that no one accesses any information from those devices without your knowledge. For instance, your spouse may be browsing through the recent search history and come across a page displaying the recent raise you got at work. This can give him or her evidence to demand for a bigger amount of spousal support.
Different jurisdictions have different laws that apply to digital evidence. Contact your divorce lawyer for advice about how to protect yourself from the risks of the information that can be gathered from the Internet. Your lawyer will also help you to respond appropriately in case any digital evidence is gathered from your online accounts.
Share14 December 2015
No one gets married planning to get divorced, but by the time I see them it's pretty obvious why they are getting divorced. When a marriage is beyond repair I'm there to fight for my clients right's under family and property law and to get them the best deal I can possibly negotiate. Even if you feel like your case is messy or complicated, I can guarantee in my time as a lawyer I have seen and heard worse things! This site has a collection of useful articles and links on developments and case law in the Family Court of Australia.