How Cyber Evidence Can Support Your Case in a Domestic Violence Divorce in Seattle

Ending a relationship is rarely straightforward or easy. There are so many factors that can affect how each partner feels about pursuing a divorce, and emotions can run high during this turbulent and stressful time. Even if you and your spouse agree that ending your marriage is the best option for allowing you to move forward and into the independent futures you envision for yourselves, the process of untangling your lives from one another can be overwhelming and daunting. It’s important to recognize that experiencing powerful emotions during this time is expected, and you may find yourself feeling sad, angry, frustrated, hopeful, bittersweet, or regretful—sometimes at the same time. While many people are able to cope with these strong and fluctuating emotions in healthy ways, there are times when one party loses control or resorts to unsafe or even dangerous behaviors toward their soon-to-be ex-spouse. Domestic violence is an unfortunate reality for many people, with statistics showing that intimate partner violence alone affects more than 12 million people every year.” Moving through the divorce process in Washington state is stressful enough without the added element of domestic abuse, harassment, stalking, or violence. If you have concerns for your safety during this vulnerable time, it’s essential that you enlist the guidance of a highly qualified and caring Seattle restraining order lawyer who can help you secure the protections you need to move forward. 

When you partner with a trusted and knowledgeable Seattle family law and divorce attorney, you can explore your options for protecting your safety as you navigate the divorce process. Together, you can gather and present evidence that shows erratic and abusive behavior on behalf of your spouse while justifying your request for legal protection. In this post, we will cover the rise of digital evidence in Washington family court proceedings, how to build a strong case for a protective order, and how enlisting the support of an experienced and dedicated Seattle divorce lawyer is the best way to empower you to move through this challenging time feeling safe and hopeful about the bright future that awaits you on the other side.

Key Types of Cyber Evidence Used in Washington Family Law Cases

In recent years, the Washington court system has recognized the rise in digital evidence and worked hard to update its policies and procedures in order to handle these types of evidence in divorce and other family law cases. With so many ways to communicate with or harass a partner (i.e., texts, emails, social media) and track their behavior (i.e., surveillance technology, location trackers, etc.), acts of domestic violence, stalking, harassment, and abuse can take many forms. Below are just a few common types of digital evidence that can be collected and presented to the court when seeking a protection order or navigating a digital abuse divorce in Washington state.

Text Messages

The use of text message evidence in family court is becoming increasingly common. If your spouse subjected you to angry, threatening, or abusive texts, you can work with your Seattle cyberbullying lawyer to gather these messages and present them to the court when seeking a protection order. You can point to the nature of the language itself (i.e., the threats that caused you to fear for your safety) as well as the frequency of the text messaging to illustrate the other party’s attempts to intimidate, harass, or exert control over you. The same goes for emails, phone calls, and voicemail, if those were the primary ways that the other party attempted to communicate with you.

Social Media Stalking and Abuse

When abusers feel out of control, they may turn to their partner’s social media profiles to monitor their activity. In some cases, they may leave threatening comments on posts or send direct messages (DMs) to social media profiles in an attempt to harass or intimidate the other person. You can work with your attorney to take screenshots of these comments or messages and decide how to present them to the court in support of your protection order petition. 

Location Tracking and Surveillance

Cyberstalking and divorce in Washington state can be incredibly stressful to navigate as you work to leave an unsafe relationship. Some abusers use location tracking tools to monitor a partner’s every move. In some cases, they will use this information to show up where the person is and make threats or harass them. If you know that your abusive partner has stalked or harassed you using location tracking or other forms of surveillance, reach out to an experienced and empathetic domestic violence attorney in Washington to review your options and identify the most strategic course of action. 

How Courts in Washington State View Digital Abuse

Credible allegations of domestic violence, stalking, or harassment can affect divorce cases in several ways. Providing evidence of these accusations is also critical to obtaining a protection order from an alleged abuser. While anyone can seek a protection order at any time, these orders can be particularly useful during a contentious divorce in which one party fears for their safety. In order to present evidence, it must be authenticated and submitted according to all rules and procedures put forth by the court. In other words, there are steps that need to be taken in order to verify that the emails, texts, or other types of digital evidence are authentic and posted or sent by the alleged abuser. If the court finds that the digital evidence is credible and compelling, it will use this information to guide its decisions regarding the divorce case or the petition for a protection order. To learn more about preparing and presenting evidence to strengthen your case in the greater Seattle area, be sure to enlist the guidance of a knowledgeable and highly skilled family law attorney right away. 

Protecting Your Own Digital Privacy

If you are concerned about an abusive partner harassing you online or gaining access to your accounts without your permission, there are steps you can take to better protect your digital privacy. Let’s take a look at some of the ways you can increase your digital protection and maintain your privacy as you leave an abusive marriage or long-term partnership.

Update All Passwords and PINs

It’s best to change all of the passwords and PINs on every device you have as soon as possible. Avoid using passwords that are easy to guess, such as birthdays or the names of children or pets. It may be worth using a password manager to create and store secure and complex passwords that an abusive partner will not be able to crack.

Enable Two-Factor Authentication For Increased Security

When you enable two-factor authentication, you are adding an extra layer of security that requires another form of verification (like a code sent to your phone or email) to prevent unauthorized access to your accounts. 

Check For Spyware

Crafty abusers may attempt to install spyware on your devices to monitor your activities without your knowledge or consent. There are several reputable antivirus software programs that can detect and remove any malicious software. If you are especially concerned about your devices being compromised, you may consider saving your important data and restoring your device to its factory settings. 

Protect Your Online Accounts

It’s worth reviewing your social media account settings to ensure that you limit the privacy of your profile as much as possible. You can control who sees your posts and even block certain users from commenting or interacting with your posts. During this vulnerable period, it’s best to avoid tagging your location or sharing overly personal information in order to prevent your abuser from finding you or subjecting you to further harassment.

Seek a Protection Order If You Feel Unsafe

Washington state has taken steps to remove as many barriers as possible for those looking to escape domestic violence situations and abusive marriages. Protection orders are designed to prevent abusers from harassing or communicating with the petitioner. If the respondent violates the terms of the protection order once it’s in place, they can face significant penalties. Reach out to a caring and trusted Seattle anti-harassment and protective order attorney today to learn more. 

The Role of a Skilled Domestic Violence Attorney in Building Your Case

As you move through the divorce process, it’s essential that you never feel alone during this overwhelming time. If you are leaving an unsafe or abusive marriage, be sure to enlist the services of a highly experienced and caring Seattle domestic violence attorney who can put the necessary protections in place to ensure your safety during the divorce process. For many people, simply knowing that you have a trusted legal advocate in your corner to support you during your divorce can give you the hope and reassurance you need to proceed with confidence.  

At the Hemmat Law Group, our team of highly qualified and compassionate family law and divorce attorneys is ready to serve you with the care, respect, and attention you deserve during this overwhelming and difficult time. If you are moving through a contentious divorce where you feel unsafe, reach out to our Seattle, Washington office right away at (206) 682-5200 to get started with a dedicated and experienced domestic violence divorce attorney.