I am not a morning person, I must have coffee, and while I am enjoying that hot cup of magical elixir that makes me human again, I like to scroll through Facebook or Instagram. Most days it’s a nice way to slowly greet the day and catch up on what the world is doing. However, once in a while, I come across a post or picture that ruins my coffee nirvana and makes me a tad cranky. Most of these posts have no redeeming value and are meant to show off or one up an ex or try to cause emotional harm or distress to another person. I keep my social media circle small and choose what I want to see carefully, but others do not heed this practice.
In many, if not all, of my Family Law cases, I tell my clients to stay off of or be very careful what they are telling the world through social media. If you are in the middle of a custody battle, or dissolution, you do not need your life displayed on social media.
Here are some Rules to keep your Family Law Attorney happy and still have a social media life:
- Choose your circle wisely. Be aware of what others are posting and stay away from people whose posts are inappropriate, sexually suggestive, in bad taste, overly crude, full of foul language, etc… You get the idea.
- No one should post to your page without your approval. Don’t let anyone “tag” you in a photo without your approval.
- Do not badmouth your ex on social media. Go out with friends and bash him/her over drinks and leave no trace of the event on social media.
- Do Not Ever badmouth, disparage, mock, or treat with anything other than respect, the other parent of your child. No matter how angry, hurt, disgusted, disappointed you are in that person, that is your child’s parent and bashing him/her will only hurt your child – and your custody case. Save the bashing for private parties (no phones, no pics, no video) with your friends.
- Do not discuss the Judge on your case on your social media account. Do not discuss the other attorney, the case itself, the courts ruling or decisions. Anything you say about the judge will get back to him or her. As an an attorney there is almost nothing worse than standing in court listening to your clients words as they call the judge a stupid, fu*$%%….. you get the idea. Just do not do it.
- If you are not sure if you should hit “Post” – DON’T. Imaging that post being used in court against you, would it help you? Would it make you look like a rational, thoughtful, fair person? No? Then hit delete.
- Do not post boastful pics of you and your new sugarbaby out to dinner at a fancy restaurant, both of you in new outfits dressed to kill, ordering another round of top-shelf drinks watching the sunset over the ocean – especially if support (child or spousal) is at issue.
- Do not brag about your fancy new car that you just bought because your spouse “was a selfish piece of $#!! And it’s about time you got something nice, because you deserve to ride in style – especially if support is at issue.
- Do not “check-in” to a bar or late night restaurant if it is your custodial time and you don’t have your babies in the pic with you.
- Do not post pics of your kids. Seriously, send pics by email, put them in a card for relatives, hand them out as gifts to your friends and family. Just don’t plaster your kids all over the internet. Protect their privacy. Do not post where they practice Little League, what dance studio they go to, where thy are getting their black belt, what park they like to play at, where they go to school. Keep their lives private.
