Property division extends to cellphone accounts

Technology is a major part of many people’s lives. Many spouses in Massachusetts, as well as many other states across the country, have joint cellphone accounts which may allow them access to one another’s email and online storage accounts. During a divorce, many couples may forget to consider their online accounts when discussing property division. 

If the accounts are synced when divorce proceedings begin, then each spouse may be able to access important information from the other’s accounts. These emails may include more than just personal messages; they might also include the legal advice that one spouse is receiving. Spouses might also have access to each other’s location, calendar or other things, like pictures, which are stored online in iCloud accounts. 

There are a number of steps that each spouse can take in order to prevent his or her information from being accessed by the other. Changing the passwords to email and other online accounts is one of the steps that a person can take to protect his or her information. Using a virtual private network while using public WiFi can also help. Ensuring that cellphones or other devices, such as tablets or laptops, are never left unlocked where others might have access to them can also help to protect a personal information. 

Massachusetts residents who are going through a divorce or who are considering going through a divorce may wish to look over their cellphone or online accounts to see how they are connected and what information their spouses may have access to. Consulting with an attorney may also be of great help to some. Attorneys can help their clients to communicate effectively with one another while working out property division settlements.