These days it seems as though people in Florida manage so much of their lives with their smartphones. While the electronic devices create many conveniences, they are also being used against individuals settling divorces. More and more spouses are using phone evidence, such as text messages, e-mails or Facebook messages, as leverage in divorce proceedings. These pieces of evidence can be used to gain advantages in child custody hearings.

A nationwide survey of attorneys revealed that they have seen a marked increase in the amount of evidence provided from phones, particularly text messages. Anything that's on a person's phone serves as written evidence.

If a person's spouse is carrying on an affair, they may be sending text messages to communicate with the other person. That message could become evidence against them.

When child custody battles become heated, spouses will often use any sort of evidence they can to prove the other parent isn't suited to be a parent. Seeing a text message that implicates a person's spouse in a sordid activity can become fodder in divorce court and can be used to gain custody of their children. Knowing that child custody disputes are stressful for both parents and children, it's important to remember how our interactions can be used to build or weaken cases for custody.

As electronic communication and various forms of social media become an increasingly significant part of everyday life, it is essential to be mindful of how our interactions might affect the future of our relationships. In the course of determining child custody arrangements it is wise to remember what factors may ultimately affect the welfare of the children.

Source: Digital Life on Today, "Divorce lawyers see more phone evidence, especially texts," Athima Chansanchai, Feb. 10, 2012