The digital world is deeply ingrained in our lives nowadays. With smartphones in our pockets and smart devices in our homes, it can be difficult to keep track of every aspect of one’s digital footprint.
In past blog posts, we have discussed the importance of managing social media accounts and even the risks surrounding cryptocurrency. However, individuals seeking a divorce must make sure they secure all aspects of their digital information.
Separating digital assets is important too
Why is it so critical to protect digital information? There are a few reasons.
Unfortunately, it is not unheard of for angry ex-spouses to snoop on digital accounts during the divorce process or even sabotage their spouse’s online accounts. Even if these extreme situations are rare, it is still important to protect oneself – and their digital life.
Additionally, with the prevalence of online banking and online shopping, many of these digital accounts are linked with an individual’s finances. This only makes it even more critical to secure these assets during a divorce.
It is often helpful to:
- Change account passwords, especially those to financial logins
- Stop sharing location services
- Separate shared accounts connected with finances, such as Netflix or Amazon
- Disconnect from smart home devices, such as Google Home or Ring doorbells
- Consider adding two-step verifications to emails, financial accounts and social media
It is easy to overlook these details in a divorce, especially when individuals also worry about dividing physical assets like the family home or securing time with their children. However, individuals in North Carolina should take time to uncouple digital assets as well as physical ones.
Maintain your privacy during divorce
Getting a divorce involves a wide range of conflicting emotions. As individuals work through these emotions and the process of their divorce, they often value their privacy for their own mental health and wellbeing.
On top of that, navigating divorce might also involve legal information individuals want to keep private from their spouse. That is why securing digital information is one of the most important steps individuals can take to protect their privacy as they end their marriage and begin a new chapter of their life.