Family Law

An overwhelming 79% of the nation's top divorce attorneys reported an increase in the frequency of Internet browser histories being used as evidence in divorce cases during the past five years, according to a recent survey of American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) members.  In addition, 44% of the respondents also cited a noticeable increase in evidence taken from Spyware programs.

"Many spouses will use the Internet in order to act anonymously, but in many ways it's the most public thing someone can do," said James Hennenhoefer, president of the AAML.  "Internet activity can provide valuable glimpses into the kinds of hidden activities that a husband or wife might be trying to conceal and Spyware programs can help to make this kind of monitoring extremely easy to conduct."

While 79% of AAML members who responded said Internet browser histories were a main source of information in divorce cases throughout the past five years, none of the respondents reported a decline in this information being used.  Additionally, 21% saw no change in how often a spouse used these records for evidence during this time period.

Internet tracking through software was also noted as an increasingly popular means of gathering evidence.  In all, 44% of AAML attorneys said that Spyware was used more often than not in divorces over the last five years. Only 2% of AAML members noticed it had been used less frequently than in previous years.

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