Dishonest dating site information may backfire in divorce cases

Las Vegas residents have likely heard the saying “what happens in Las Vegas stays in Las Vegas” far too many times, yet the same could be said about the Internet. Oftentimes, what happens on the Internet truly stays on the Internet, and that information could eventually be used as evidence in a divorce case.

Previous blog posts have discussed the pros and cons of technology in divorce cases, as well as divulging divorce information on Facebook. A recent study goes one step further, looking at dating websites as rich sources of information.

According to divorce lawyers surveyed by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, 59 percent of them have seen a rise in the last three years in the number of cases where evidence is used that was found on dating websites.

The top sites for a variety of information appear to be Match.com, followed by eHarmony.com. The information is plentiful, but the most revealing, according to lawyers, is the relationship status. Clearly, a status of ‘single’ is a blatant example of dishonesty. Other information, such as parental status or the individual’s occupation and salary, proved important as well. Dishonest answers in these categories could prove costly for individuals in divorce and child custody cases.

During the divorce process, it is important to understand that a lot of information that has likely been private for a long time will surface. This includes information about family finances, possible infidelity and even a person’s parenting ability. Although coming forward with all of these details may seem intimidating, having experienced representation that protects your best interests can make all the difference in how that information affects the outcome of the divorce.

Source: UPI.com, “Dating website info being used in divorces,” Feb. 17, 2013