Missouri residents may be interested to find out how individuals’ social media posts may incriminate them in various legal situations. An assistant district attorney in Milwaukee County, Wis., indicates that this incriminating behavior may be the result of a belief that nobody will care about the posts. Social media has become a helpful child support enforcement tool, however, as many noncustodial parents’ pages have displayed information that indicates that these individuals do, in fact, have the ability to meet their financial obligations but do not.
In one scenario, a noncustodial parent bought a music studio but neglected child support payments. In another situation, a parent who had only ever paid $100 total in child support posted photos in which the individual held large stacks of money. Yet another non-paying parent bragged about their income in a social media post. As a result of the investigation, all three of these individuals are facing charges. In the third instance, felony charges are pending. That parent’s child is 3 years old and undergoing treatment for leukemia. The custodial parent has been faced with costs for hospital stays, medical testing and various treatments while receiving an average of 14 cents per day from the other parent.
Income plays a role in the determination of support owed by a non-custodial parent, but legal challenges may arise if the court has been misled about an individual’s finances. Enforcement of support may be enhanced through the review of information posted on social media sites. However, it is important to use proper channels to investigate such details.
A parent who wonders about social media implications related to non-payment of child support may find a lawyer’s counsel helpful. A lawyer may provide steps for documenting relevant information from a social media site and may be able to address requests for non-public information that may pertain to a particular case.
Source: Opposing Views, “Fathers Face Charges For Avoiding Child Support, Bragging About Money On Facebook “, Sarah Fruchtnicht, July 17, 2014
