Don’t Delete Your Emails – How Electronic Data Can Help & Hurt A Divorce

What happens to all your emails, texts, Tweets, Facebook posts and other digital information during a divorce?

Electronic data has become more and more important in divorce cases as computers and smartphones have become more and more ubiquitous. The rise of social media has made it so that there is so much information you can find about a person through the Internet. But how is it used in divorce cases, and what can you do to protect your data?

  1. Don’t delete anything! Your emails, your social media updates, and all electronic data should not be tampered with. It creates the impression of wrongdoing and could be considered spoliation of evidence, which can result in fines or other sanctions.
  2. Restrict your online activity while the divorce is ongoing. Don’t post about any new relationships or anything that might suggest you are spending money frivolously.
  3. Change ALL your passwords and your security questions for account recovery. Make sure the answers are things only you know and that your ex-spouse cannot find out.
  4. Use a new email address for your personal business.
  5. Adjust your privacy settings on social media accordingly.
  6. Have control of your electronic devices. Many people sync contacts, calendars and other information across different devices, which could lead to unauthorized access to your accounts.
  7. Don’t try to dig up information on your spouse without the assistance of an attorney. Some methods of acquiring digital data may be illegal, and you don’t want to have that reflected on you.

Denver divorce attorneys assisting Colorado families in matters of family law, through tailored actions designed to secure the best outcome.

Four Simple Tips To Help You Pay Less For Divorce

Generally speaking, divorce can be a very expensive life event. There is a lot to consider beyond just the cost of an attorney. Finding a new place to live, purchasing a new vehicle and many other things factor into the cost of divorce.

Attorney fees make up a large portion of divorce costs, but there are many strategies that we use at our law firm to help our clients soften the financial blow of divorce as much as possible. Here are a few tips to help you keep your attorney fees low in divorce.

4 Tips To Minimize Divorce Costs

  1. Find a lawyer early on in the divorce process. While this might seem counterintuitive, often it actually results in lower long-term fees because your lawyer will advise you on what’s feasible and what the best possible outcome can be for your individual situation.
  2. Use your time with your attorney wisely. Preparation is important. Think through all of the questions that you have, compile them all together and bring them to your attorney’s attention at one time, instead of making a phone call every time you have a question. Keeping your attorney interactions concise can help you minimize your attorney fees.
  3. Do your homework! While divorce attorneys are there to help you get all of your affairs in order, there is a lot that you can do yourself to help streamline the process. Putting together your financial portfolio including assets, liabilities, income and expenses, for example, can make it that much easier for your attorney to work through any issues related to division of marital assets.
  4. If it is possible for you to remain amicable with your spouse, much of the conflict in your divorce can be avoided. That can lead directly to lower attorney fees, because conflict can drag out divorce proceedings, contributing to higher costs.

Our Denver divorce attorneys offer financing options to help clients cover the costs of their divorces.