A person who is in the middle of a divorce or who has recently separated is often in the uncomfortable position of answering awkward questions asked by those who are curious about his or her situation. Though discussing a private situation is not always easy, answering questions is usually better than having third-parties attempting to find out information about your personal life. As more adults grow comfortable using social media and the internet for research, incidents of separation related privacy violations are on the rise. Protecting your privacy when you are separating and after your divorce helps to avoid problems with your former partner.

Change All Passwords

Multiple studies have shown that half of all adults use the same password for different accounts.  If you have ever told your former partner a password that you use or saved a password in an internet browser that he or she had access to, changing all of your passwords is a good idea.  Once the relationship is officially over, your ex or someone close to him or her may attempt to log into your accounts using your passwords Since many adults store personal and financial information in social media or email accounts, having someone access or make changes to those accounts can lead to major problems.

Get a New Number

Changing a phone number used to be a major inconvenience, but now most mobile phone owners can get a new phone number by simply calling their phone carrier and paying a small fee.  Getting your number changed is sometimes easier than ignoring calls or text messages from former in-laws, mutual friends you no longer want to speak with, or others associated with your ex with whom you prefer to cut ties. If you and your former partner have mutual children, you do need to provide them with your new number, but the change should cut down on calls from people associated with your ex.

Update Privacy Settings

Social media networks such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram all allow users to restrict who can see their updates or uploaded content. Changing your privacy settings to prevent anyone outside of your immediate circle from viewing your posts keeps others from watching and judging your actions. The last thing anyone going through a divorce or trying to win custody of a child needs is images of a bachelor party attendance or what appears to be a shopping spree being used against them in court. When changing your privacy settings, also consider going through your friends or followers lists and removing mutual friends, former in-laws, or anyone else you believe will report your online activities to your ex.

Vayman & Teitelbaum

There are times when your attempts to preserve your privacy are not enough. An internet savvy spouse or a determined ex may still find ways to monitor your emails or social media activities.  If you are not sure how to protect yourself, contacting a family law attorney is something that you should seriously consider. The attorneys at Vayman & Teitelbaum are dedicated to preserving your rights while providing you with zealous legal representation. Contact us today and schedule an initial consultation at one of our four Atlanta, Georgia locations.