How social media can cost you dear during divorce proceedings

A new study has revealed that social and professional networking sites like Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and even smartphone applications can have unforeseen consequences in divorce settlement negotiations.

Jeff Landers, author of 'Divorce: Think Finacially, Not Emotionally- What Women Need to Know about Securing Their Financial Future Before, During, And After Divorce' explains that as e-mails and text messages, activities on social media and networking websites are admissible evidence in Court, one must be extremely cautious while using these sources, and also update privacy settings as online activity can provide clues to hidden assets or other dirty tricks, Forbes Magazine reported.

As lying on financial documents is a crime, and as social media activity, email and text messages can be subpoenaed by Court, which may provide a potentially huge trail of evidence, one must to be exceedingly careful with online activity during divorce, it suggests.

In general, social media must be seen as both public and permanent and one should be careful to not post, Tweet, or share anything that you would not like to disclose to the whole world, it further suggests.

Another suggestion was that while using social media, be discreet, exercise caution and have excellent judgement.