Partner, Family Law
In the UK, 84.3 percent of the population are active social media users. So it’s perhaps not surprising that social media has become more prevalent in divorce cases.
One example of this in the news is the divorce of actors Alice Evans and Ioan Grufford. The couple announced that they would be splitting up in January 2021 and since then Alice has used multiple social media platforms to make allegations against her ex.
Most of Alice’s posts centre around accusations of Ioan being a bad parent to their two daughters. She has also allegedly gone as far as to share screenshots of text conversations between Ioan and his eldest child.
As Divorce Solicitors, we understand that divorce can be extremely difficult and emotionally draining. But posting the wrong thing online could result in irreversible damage. In this article, we’ve gone into further detail about how your social media presence could be used by your former spouse, and how this might affect your case.
For advice that is tailored to your situation, contact our experienced Family and Divorce Lawyers.
We're rated‘Excellent’Many people are unaware that social media posts are effectively public documents, meaning they are admissible in Court and could potentially be used against you.
Even if you’ve removed your former spouse from your friends or followers lists and blocked them, it’s likely that you will still have mutual friends who will continue to have sight of anything you post.
In some cases, aggrieved exes may go to the lengths of creating a new account to monitor their former partner’s behaviour following the break-up. They will often use what they find as evidence, and even use it for blackmail.
We know that in divorce proceedings relationships can become hostile and you might be tempted to share your frustrations on social media. But we would urge you to post with caution as the consequences could do significant harm to your case during separation proceedings.
Social media is part of most people’s day-to-day lives now and this level of familiarity can lead individuals to post life updates and images without fully thinking them through before uploading.
This can be particularly detrimental for people who are going through a divorce. There are multiple ways that your posts could be taken and used against you. Your ex-spouse may use messages, photos, tags and videos you’ve shared to imply that you have acted inappropriately.
If you’re applying to spend time with your children, this could be especially damaging. It can also be costly as you may be served with injunction proceedings for harassment and be held responsible for paying your partner’s legal costs.
We would therefore urge anyone who is starting the process of separation to think carefully about what is posted online and to seek legal advice early. For more information on how our expert Divorce Solicitors could help you, get in touch for an initial consultation.
The divorce process in England and Wales varies depending on whether you are the person who starts divorce proceedings, known as the Divorce Petitioner or the person who receives the divorce proceedings, known as the Divorce Respondent.
Getting a divorce in England and Wales has never been easier, as you can apply for the divorce petition online. Because of this, many people think that a DIY divorce is the quickest and cheapest option, but it can lead to complications further down the line which could cost you much more in the long run.
Divorce Solicitors often see a surge in enquiries in January, with the New Year prompting unhappy couples to look to start afresh. But research by Simpson Millar has found that many myths around divorce are rife, with lots of people unaware of what rules and restrictions are in place.
Fill in the form below to get in touch with one of our dedicated team members, or call our team today on: 0808 239 3465
