A Lichfield legal expert is warning Facebook philanderers that spurned spouses are increasingly turning to technology to prove infidelity.

Family law experts from Bradin Trubshaw & Kirwan say that divorce cases they’ve dealt with involving some form of high tech evidence – such as emails, mobile phone records or even social networking messages from sites like Facebook – have doubled in the past year.

Helen Bradin
Helen Bradin

Helen Bradin, partner at the practice, said:

“Everyone knows the traditional telltale signs of infidelity – lipstick on the collar, dubious drinks receipts or unexplained hotel bills – but in the 21st century, technology is playing a much more prominent role in exposing partners who play away.

“The internet is designed to make the transfer of information simple, but this also means that incriminating evidence such as emails are easily forwarded or even just printed out. It’s difficult to for someone having an affair to cover their digital tracks completely, and I’ve dealt with a number of cases recently where a partner has done their best to keep an affair secret but failed.

“As technology continues to drop in price, it’s become cheap for a suspicious partner to purchase or hire sophisticated equipment to keep tabs on their husband or wife. Sophisticated technology such as GPS trackers for cars, phone bugging devices or hidden microphones and cameras are just a few clicks away on the internet and, whilst courts are sometimes uneasy about this type of evidence, it is often admitted to divorce proceedings.

“It may sound like something out a spy drama, but the technology is out there and people are using it to catch their partners in the act. If you are involved in an illicit affair, be aware you’ll be leaving a digital footprint of your activities wherever you go.”

Bradin Trubshaw & Kirwan is a firm of solicitors advising on a wide range of private client and commercial law. For an informal discussion about any legal issue, call 01922 612 444 or email [email protected].

Founder of Lichfield Live and editor of the site.

1 Comment
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Raoul Duke
13 years ago

Is it possible to use encryption upon my trail of digital footprints?