Family Matters Law Group is proud to present Legal Snacks, short videos that explain key concepts in family law. By watching these videos, you can educate yourself about your case, get some questions answered, and be prepared to have a more productive office visit.
In this month’s Legal Snack, we hear a case study about the need for documented electronic evidence and learn more about how to effectively document your case.
Here is Mrs. Edidiong Aaron, founder, and owner of Family Matters Law Group, to tell us more:
Key Questions From This Legal Snack
Mrs. Aaron addresses two key questions in this Legal Snack. They are:
- Why is documentation so important in a family law case?
- What kinds of documentation are considered acceptable in court?
Documentation Is Essential
In the case study that Mrs. Aaron presented in the video, a woman was making allegations that she knew were untrue in order to get back at her ex for seeing someone else. Unfortunately, there are times when people resort to unsavory means as a way of getting someone back.
If the man, in this case, were not able to successfully document that the woman’s claims were false, he could be held in arrears on his child support, which would have meant possible jail time. The consequences were extremely serious and his only hope of fending off this attack from his ex was to have solid documentation to prove her claims false.
When money and custody rights are on the line, it’s unfortunate that some parties in a court case will try to hide assets, refuse visitation, or create falsehoods to paint the other party in a bad light. It’s vital that you document everything so that it’s not just your word against someone else’s. The documentation needs to have your back because that is what will count in court.
Types Of Documentation the Court Will Accept
In addition to standard paperwork, the Court also accepts many other forms of documentation. In the case study presented in this Legal Snack, text messages became the central proof. It is vital that if you screenshot text messages, they are shown with a date and time stamp to verify the veracity of the screenshot itself.
You may also present emails to the court making sure that they also are date and time-stamped. Scanned receipts of purchases made are acceptable documentation. Photographic evidence is also considered permissible in court.
One overlooked source of documentation is audio recordings. Many people believe that it is against the law to record someone without their permission. In Georgia, there is no prohibition against recording a conversation and it can be a very useful tool in a family law courtroom. Make sure to ask your attorney for more information.
Making sure to document everything you do and say in a divorce or custody case can make the difference between keeping your assets and your children and losing everything. In this case study, it also would have been the difference between jail time and freedom.
If you reside in Henry, Clayton, or Fayette counties, or are currently in a divorce in the metro Atlanta area, contact Family Matters Law Group for assistance. We can discuss strategies to fight for your children, your assets, and your money. Setting up a consultation is easy — simply call or use our online contact form. We look forward to hearing your story.
