Attorney Van Smith and his colleagues at Smith Strong, PLC have noticed a greater number of divorces in Virginia because of affairs being uncovered by flirty texts and social media messages. Affairs used to be done in secret, away from the home, making it harder to catch a cheating spouse. However, technology has made having an affair easier.
Apps, Texts, and Phone Messages Create a Digital Paper Trail for Adultery Cases in Virginia
People can text, message, and Snapchat their lover and make it disappear from their phone with the push of the “delete” button. These secretive affairs can now be conducted entirely online through text messages, Facebook, or even LinkedIn messages. These online messaging apps are proving to be many adulterers’ downfall.
Infidelity is skyrocketing compared to other types of divorce-related behavior, with affairs that once required being discovered through private investigation now being disclosed by sneaking a peek at your spouse’s phone when they’re not looking.
Technology is Increasing Temptation and Access to Information
Some people complain about technology literally putting temptation in their partner’s hands, providing them with opportunities to conduct extra-marital relationships with the touch of a finger through social media or text messaging. A spouse could be cheating while sitting in the same room with their husband or wife. However, with the ease of having these “technology” affairs, comes a greater ease of discovering the affair. Cheaters aren’t always as good at clearing their digital footprint as they think.
Technology has made it easier for extra-marital relationships to be uncovered. Emails aren’t put in the trash folder, text messages aren’t deleted, and Facebook photos disclose another world. However, lawyers warn that such evidence is not enough to petition for divorce on grounds of adultery. Will the court change the grounds of adultery based on the new advances of technology and the rise of social media affairs?
Smith Strong, PLC has experience defending against allegations of adultery based on digital evidence. In 2017, attorney Van Smith in Chesterfield Circuit Court proved and secured grounds of adultery for a client against a spouse by accessing the shared hard drive of the couple’s computer. This drive had a secure folder of Snapchat messages, videos, and texts that provided graphic sexual proof of the affair sufficient to prove adultery.
Smith Strong also has had success in court defending against these allegations on behalf of other clients, to greater success.
If you are concerned about adultery and believe your spouse is having an affair through technology, please call Smith Strong, PLC today to schedule a confidential consultation to develop a comprehensive case plan.