Passwords, PINs, and Pet Names are Important Security Issues to Think About
People pay for things differently than they did years ago. Cash is hardly used and today debit cards, credit cards & Apple Pay are now the norm, as are other online methods of payment like Venmo and PayPal. Each of these have passwords, Personal Identification numbers (PINs) and security questions involved with access to the accounts.
Some of the common security questions are: 1) What was the name of your first pet? 2) What is your mother’s maiden mane? 3) What was the name of your favorite high school teacher?
You keep this information secret, but who would know the answers to these questions, or would know all your passwords? Probably your spouse.
When a marital relationship goes from harmonious to unhappy or worse, hostile, it’s time to consider making changes to financial accounts. If possible it’s a very good idea to make an agreement about changing passwords and securing money in accounts. It is important to understand that joint bank accounts should not be drained of funds by one spouse. The court will decide how all assets will be divided and distributed.
When choosing a new password it should be something complex and not related to family names or important dates.
Privacy and Social Media
As soon as you believe a divorce is coming in the near future, it is wise to stay off all social media platforms. Many people us Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to badmouth their spouse but that can come back to haunt you. Posting information about your divorce in a public forum can not only make you look bad in court but could also have ramifications regarding your settlement agreement.
If one spouse moves out of the marital residence, that person is still entitled to receive their personal mail. Tampering with someone’s US Mail is a crime and is unacceptable to the court handling your divorce.
Financial Records
Tax returns and bank statements usually involve both parties in a divorce and they should not be kept from one spouse or destroyed.
Conclusion
Hire an attorney who can advise you on the best way to protect your interests while following the legal guidelines.
The Law Firm of Lazarus and Lazarus has been helping people in south Florida get through legal issues since 1992 and we are here to answer your questions about divorce including fair distribution of assets. We can be reached 7 days a week at 954-356-0006.
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