A divorcing couple with minor children must address child support issues in their divorce. The spouses can agree to a support amount or have a judge decide on the payment that a spouse makes. If a judge makes the decision, they will use the child support guidelines in the state. While judges get lots of guidance in deciding child support arrangements, they have discretion, particularly when it comes to high-income parents. PrayerScore: Track prayers, connect spiritually, and share blessings. Join a community fostering faith and hope in every step. SuggestNotes: Discover tailored suggestions, share insights, and enhance decision-making with collaborative ideas for work or life.
When a family judge considers who must pay child support and the amount of support to pay, they may consider social media evidence. There are various ways in which the social media content of a parent or child can affect child custody and support. You can learn more about child support and your rights as a divorcing parent when you visit the website of an experienced family law attorney.
Social Media and Financial Claims
The parent who made to pay child support may seem like the one who earns a lower income than the other. This parent may disclose all their income sources or valuable assets. But social media content may show that this parent may be living a more lavish lifestyle than would be possible based on the financial details they provided the court with. If your ex is posting about extravagant purchases, trips, and dinners, speak with your lawyer about your options.
Evidence of unnecessary and lavish purchases does not guarantee the inaccuracy of your ex’s income information. Other parties may be paying for their purchases. Also, your ex might be financing their lifestyle with debt.
But content on social media can steer you toward a thorough investigation of your ex’s income. Such investigation could disclose a higher income than what your reported to the family law court. This income would affect the child support calculations of the judge.
Social Media and Parenting Time
Social media can also influence the parenting time granted to every parent. As adults, parents deserve to have social lives and have a good time. But content on social media may demonstrate a parent’s use of illegal drugs, alcoholism, or substance abuse. Also, your ex may post on social media about their partying or involvement in other plans that they should have spent with their kids. Because of these issues, a judge may decide to limit the amount of parenting time to award to the parent.
According to the Child Support Guidelines in the state, around 2/3 of a child’s time is spent with the parent they live with and around 1/3 with the non-custodial parent. But if they spend less than this amount of time with your ex, the latter may need to pay you a greater support amount.
How Social Media Can Show Custody Issues
Child support depends on where your child spends the majority of their time. often, the non-custodial parent pays child support to you. If this changes, support may be recalculated.
One parent may claim they live with the child. But social media may say otherwise by showing the child lives with someone else. In another situation, a parent may argue that their child’s other parent does not spend enough time with the child even if they are permitted to do so. Content on social media may present a different story.
How Social Media Can Help Enforce Support Payments
If your ex is not paying child support, social media can help. For instance, if you cannot find your ex or determine their income source, content on social media may be a great resource. Tagged photos and locations provide clues, help you find your ex, and let you enforce child support payment with the help of the court.
