Divorce lawyers turning to social media for evidence

CINCINNATI - It's not just friends and relatives looking through your pictures online to find out what you're doing.

Many divorce lawyers are using social media sites to find dirt on their client's spouses. The American Academy of Matrimony Lawyers says 81% of it's members use social media in court.

Attorney Phyllis Bossin says often what's found on a computer can make their case. She says her firm uses computer evidence in about 1/3 of their cases.

"There's so much information in the public domain that you can gather from looking at a hard drive, it's like looking at a footprint," Bossin said.

David Hatter, of Libertas Technologies , says Facebook's terms of service make it impossible to truly delete something you post.

"Once you've posted it on Facebook, you have to assume that it literally can live forever, it may never go away," said Hatter.

It's not just the big social media, some lawyers have to get creative.

Attorney Reeta Brendamour, with White, Getgey & Meyer , says they've used the United States Golf Association’s Golf Handicap and Information Network (GHIN) to prove spouses were on the golf course instead of available for their children.

"It impacts parenting issues, and the level of trust that a person has in a person having a spouse with their young children," said Bossin.

Hatter says using social media is a great way to stay in touch and network, but warns you have to be careful what you share.

"Don't say it online if you wouldn't say it in person and you'll probably be okay," said Hatter.