We've talked about social media being more and more visible in divorce cases. But what about the devices checking and sending messages on those platforms? The use of smartphones, tablets and laptops have boomed over the past decade, and with that, so has its effect on divorce nationwide.
Over the past three years, 97 percent of members of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers said they have seen an increase in evidence taken from smartphones and other wireless devices according to an AAML report. On top of that, a whopping 99% of AAML members report a rising number of text messages being used in their cases.
Columbus, OH lawyer Amy Weis said people are so accustomed to communicating through texts and social media that they don't consider the permanency of the exchanges.
"Sometimes, folks going through divorce might want to have a Breathalyzer on their smartphone," Weis told The Columbus Dispatch.. "You get the late-night rants. The spouse sees it, friends see it, friends aligned with the other spouse see it." And even if you delete the offending content, you must remember — nothing on the internet stays hidden forever.
"There are companies where, if necessary, we can get a smartphone to them and have them work their magic and tell us what is there and what is not there," Weis said.
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Technology potent tool in divorce cases (The Columbus Dispatch)
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