Dangerous Divorces: Digital Threats Could Impact Your Safety

Even in the best of cases – the situations where both parties in a marriage are on agreeable terms and are in agreement regarding the important decisions to be made – divorce can be a rough situation. Unfortunately, sometimes it is far worse than that. While stalking is not necessarily present in all divorces, it is a distressingly common issue in relationships that have some element of abuse to them. And thanks to new technology and the rise of digital devices, it is now easier than ever to keep tabs on someone.

If you are in the middle of a divorce or are attempting to leave a dangerous or abusive marriage, then you should be aware of the threat that technology could pose to your safety. An experienced attorney can help keep you safe in these situations.

GPS Technology

GPS is a form of technology that tracks your location. It is particularly prevalent in smartphones and other smart devices, but there is also a plethora of small, standalone devices that can be used without your knowledge. If these are slipped into your purse, your jacket, or your car, just to give a few examples, then someone could keep tabs on your location even without access to your computer or smartphone.

You should know that the use of trackers is, in large part, illegal. That means that there are very few situations in which it is legally justifiable to use them, and if your spouse is attempting to use them to track your location, you might be able to pursue charges. It should be noted, however, that in certain situations, your spouse might be within their rights to use such a device. A vehicle that is co-owned might be an exception as your spouse is also an owner of the car and might be entitled to track the vehicle’s whereabouts. To avoid this, it is advisable to avoid using anything that your spouse might be legally able to track.

An attorney can help you determine which items these may be and how you can keep your location safe.

Spy/Monitoring Applications

In addition to GPS technology, an increasing number of individuals are turning to applications that “spy”, or monitor, another’s actions. Some of these can monitor your private text messages, your social media activity, and even your emails and spending. These applications can be installed on smartphones, computers, and tablets.

If you think that your spouse is employing the use of these applications, stop using the devices immediately and reach out to your attorney. They will be able to guide you through the next steps, whether that means giving the devices in question to law enforcement to look for evidence of the monitoring applications or something else entirely.

Experienced Divorce Lawyers in Illinois

If you are in need of a divorce attorney, reach out to Abear Law Offices today! Our experienced attorneys can help. Use our contact form for more information!