Is Your Spouse Spying on You During Divorce?
Though a disconcerting thought, it is not uncommon for one spouse to spy on the other during a high-conflict Florida divorce—especially if one spouse believes the other to be having an affair. If you suspect that your spouse is spying on you, you may feel uncomfortable, invaded upon, and even a little afraid. The good news is that you do not have to put up with a spying spouse. Some forms of spying are so out of line that they are illegal. If you feel that your spouse is spying on you, and if you want to be sure that a) they cannot use any of their illegally obtained information against you in your Florida divorce and b) that they are legally reprimanded for their behavior, contact our Boca Raton divorce law firm to speak with one of our experienced divorce attorneys right away.
Reasons Your Spouse May Spy On You During a Divorce
Divorce is complicated, and over the course of a legal separation, many decisions must be made—including but not limited to who gets what assets, whether or not spousal support must be awarded, and how child custody will be arranged. While a judge’s job is to remain objective and to make decisions based off of the facts, things like a cheating spouse, a gambling spouse, or a drug- or alcohol-abusing spouse may negatively affect the outcome of divorce for the guilty individual.
In some instances – such as when the cheating individual spends a significant amount of money on the affair – the cheating individual may be required to pay back that money, or may have their alimony increased as a result.
Furthermore, while the courts may not base custody decisions solely off of the marital misconduct of one spouse, they may take cheating into consideration when determining how custody is split between the parents. For instance, if one spouse was routinely with his or her lover instead of with the family or at work (as they claimed to be), the courts may award a majority of or sole custody to the faithful spouse.
Gambling and drug- or alcohol-abuse will also have an impact on how custody is awarded. If one spouse has an alcohol or drug problem, and if the other spouse can prove it through legally obtained information, the substance-abusing spouse may lose custody rights altogether until he or she agrees to undergo drug and/or alcohol treatment.
Ways Your Spouse May Spy On You
In today’s day and age, there are several ways that one spouse may spy on the other. Those include:
- Monitoring your emails, mail, phone calls, and text messages;
- Monitoring your social media accounts;
- Tracking you via GPS;
- Watching you via video surveillance;
- Having you followed by a private investigator; and/or
- Following you themselves.
How to React When You Are Being Spied On
There are several ways to respond when your spouse is spying on you. One way is to come clean with he or she about everything you have been doing. If you have been cheating, admit to it. If you have been drinking or gambling, confess, and agree to undergo counseling. While you may not be able to save your marriage, you will at least be able to put an end to the constant surveillance and hopefully regain some footing in your Florida divorce case.
If you have not done anything wrong, and if you believe that your spouse’s actions are a danger to you and others around you, you may consider filing for a restraining order and/or protective injunction. You may even be able to seek criminal penalties or civil remedies if their actions have been illegal.
Retain the Legal Help of a Boca Raton Divorce Attorney
At the Law Offices of Schwartz | White, we aim to make your Florida divorce as amicable and stress-free as possible. However, that is hard to do when one spouse is continuously spying on the other, or when one spouse second-guesses the actions of the other at every turn. A Boca Raton divorce lawyer can help alleviate the tension between both parties, and hopefully help the dueling spouses reach an amicable resolution. If you are in the midst of a high conflict divorce, and if your spouse is making it difficult for you to carry on with your life, contact our family law firm at 561-391-9943 or online to schedule a private consultation with one of our experienced divorce attorneys today.
Resource:
http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0061/Sections/0061.08.html
