Another difficult thing about divorce that doesn’t get discussed much is the loss of privacy you may experience as you are going through the process. While word of a wedding is typically announced far and wide, you’d probably rather that news of your divorce be kept private. Unfortunately, that is rarely (if ever) the case. You are going to face a lot of well-intentioned friends and family members asking you questions that are none of their business. But that doesn’t mean you have to answer a question just because it is asked.
During a divorce, it’s important to protect your privacy and that of your family. Telling everyone the details of your split is unnecessary, especially if you have children who need protecting as well. If you can keep your private news to yourself, it will make your divorce easier to handle for all involved.
One way to deal with the curiosity seekers is to have a standard answer that you feel comfortable sharing. It should be something general, like, “It’s a challenge, but I’m getting through it; thanks for asking.” Then you can quickly turn the conversation to other topics.
Here are a few other tips on how you can protect your privacy during a divorce:
Change your passwords often. It is not unusual for spouses to “spy” on each other by accessing each other’s computers or smartphones looking for evidence to use in a divorce. Change your passwords to access all your devices as well as those that unlock your social media accounts, bank accounts, and email.
Check your security settings. Make sure you have your security settings on all social media networking sites set to “private” and make sure you remove anyone on your Friends list that may give your spouse access to your account.
Remove iffy content. Remove any questionable online content that could reflect poorly on you if it was introduced in court. Scour your friends’ social media feeds for any photos of you that may be compromising and ask them to remove it.
Don’t post, text or email anything you wouldn’t want a judge to see. Social media has become a ripe hunting ground for spouses and attorneys looking for evidence in a divorce case. In addition, at any time a judge could order you to preserve all of your emails for use as evidence. The proper outlet for expressing your feelings during a divorce is in a therapist’s office, not online.
By handling cases with the dignity and respect they deserve, we have helped many families in New Jersey civilly resolve their divorce, rebuild a satisfying life, and confidently step into the next chapter of their lives. Contact us today for your free consultation.
