How to Protect Your Privacy During a Divorce

While going through a divorce, you will have a lot of things to watch and do. Make certain that you don’t lose track of your own privacy with so much going on. Your spouse could be trying to take advantage of your busy schedule and uncomfortable emotions to find a way to spy on you for their gain.

8 must-know privacy tips and hints for people going through divorces are:

1. Change your passwords: In the digital age, you probably have many passwords to all sorts of devices and accounts. Once you file for divorce, it is time to make certain all of your passwords are changed to something only you will know. Consider if you need to update the passwords for accounts related to savings, credit cards, pensions, streaming services like Netflix, shopping services like Amazon, healthcare provider online portals, and more. Don’t forget to add two-step verification options to particularly important accounts that could be disastrous if hacked.
2. Pause social media postings until further notice: The simplest way for your spouse to spy on you while divorcing is to look at your social media accounts for questionable posts. The easiest way to stop them from using your posts against you is to stop making posts altogether. Refrain from going on your social media accounts until your divorce is finalized. You can even see it as a “self-care routine” that helps you “unplug,” which many people say is a good exercise whether or not you’re in the middle of a divorce. To unplug, change your account passwords and leave them alone. Don’t cancel the accounts, though, as this could look suspicious and be misconstrued by your spouse.
3. Replace shared electronics: Some electronic devices are not password locked or are shared by your spouse, so you can’t just change the password and move on. For such electronics, it is better to stop using them immediately and replace them as you can. You will probably find that you didn’t need to use those devices as often as you thought.
4. Secure your network: Your home’s Wi-Fi network could become the center target for your spouse’s spying attempts while your divorce proceeds. Be sure to secure your network however you can, which begins by changing the password to your modem and router. You can also call your internet service provider and ask them to alter your IP address. Your spouse might attempt to spy on you by accessing your IP address, but they will hit a wall if your IP address has changed since they were last in your home.
5. Open new bank accounts: Separating your financial accounts from your spouse is an essential step. Open new bank accounts in your name only. You can shift your portion of shared or joint bank accounts to a new account that you keep sealed, even from you. Doing so will prevent you or your spouse from spending money that may be deemed a marital asset to be divided equitably, depending on where you live. Double-check that your direct deposits from work are being sent to your private accounts, too.
6. Consider making temporary orders: You and your family law attorney can work with the court to create temporary orders that describe how both you and your spouse need to behave while the divorce progresses. Specifically, temporary orders can outline who should pay important bills, where each of you can live if there are children involved, how the two of you can communicate, and so forth.
7. Sign up for new credit cards: If you shared credit cards with your spouse, then you should not keep using those accounts. You could easily have a financial headache by using shared credit lines and trying to figure out who is responsible for the payments later. It may even be beneficial to temporarily deactivate your card to prevent use of it by your spouse. Starting new credit card accounts in your name also helps you bolster your personal credit score.
8. Get a P.O. box: If you are worried that your spouse might try to tamper with your mail, you can open a P.O. box at your local post office and have any mail addressed to you redirected there. P.O. boxes are usually rented in monthly increments, so you can rent them for however long your attorney expects your divorce to last.

Need More Divorce Help? Ask Us

Wisselman, Harounian & Associates on Long Island can help you with any questions or concerns you have about a pending divorce. We are devoted to doing everything we can for our clients, which means protecting them from damage caused by their spouses’ spying schemes. Call (516) 773-8300 to speak with a member of our team during a no-cost case consultation today.