Steps You Can Take to Stop Digital Harassment During Divorce

16 Nov
2021

Harassment at the hands of a soon-to-be-former spouse is unfortunately common in divorce, and the internet makes it easy to do. At The Women’s Divorce and Family Law Group, we are dedicated to protecting you and your rights throughout divorce proceedings. The following details what you need to know about digital harassment during divorce and the steps you can take to put a stop to it.  

Digital Harassment and Stalking During Divorce Proceedings

If your spouse refuses to accept the fact that your marriage is over despite being served with a divorce petition or is otherwise determined to make the experience as unpleasant as possible, they are likely to find ways of harassing you. Unfortunately, the internet provides a wealth of opportunities. Digital harassment during divorce can take a variety of forms and may include: 

• Unwanted communications through emails and chats;
• Pretending to be someone else and ‘friending’ you online;
• Stalking you on social media;
• Tagging you in posts or pictures;
• Hacking into your accounts;
• Flooding websites you own with spam. 

Regardless of your spouse’s motives, the above and other types of activities should be taken seriously. The Illinois Attorney General’s Office warns that harassment and online stalking are common forms of domestic violence. If not stopped, they could end up increasing to more invasive and aggressive behaviors. 

Putting a Stop to Digital Harassment

If you face digital harassment from a soon-to-be ex-spouse, there are some steps you can take to help put a stop to it. These include: 

• Changing privacy settings on social media accounts;
• Not accepting friend or chat requests from people you do not know;
• Increasing spam settings on websites and emails;
• Not engaging with your spouse either online or in-person. 

In addition to the above, you should also let our Chicago area divorce attorneys know about the situation immediately. Under the Illinois Statutes, cyberstalking and digital harassment are serious crimes. In addition to informing their attorney and the judge in your case, we can pursue getting a restraining order against them. If they continue the behavior, they could face fines and possible arrest. Their behavior could also negatively impact their rights in regards to marital property division, child time-sharing, and other divorce-related issues. 

Request a Consultation With Our Chicago Area Divorce Attorneys Today

You do not have to put up with behavior that violates your privacy or otherwise makes you feel uncomfortable and unsafe. At The Women’s Divorce and Family Law Group, we can help protect you against digital harassment during divorce proceedings. To request a confidential consultation, give us a call or contact our Chicago area divorce attorneys online today. 

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There are many factors to consider when contemplating divorce, and a pre-divorce planning session can help you begin to plan for a divorce. Please contact the professionals at the Women’s Divorce & Family Law Group by calling (312) 585-6604 or clicking here to schedule a consultation.