Robinette Legal Group - January 2023

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accounts are private — could negatively impact your case. The fact is that insurance companies and investigators can find posts on platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. This evidence can then be manipulated during litigation, and the opposing party will try to use it against you. I like to think of it this way: If you have been in an automobile accident and claim that you were severely injured but are posting pictures of yourself soaking up sun at the beach, chances are you may not be as seriously injured as you claim. Even the seemingly “good” posts can be turned negative depending on the context. Posts about everyday life — going out to a nice dinner, meeting friends in town, etc. — can be easily misconstrued. This

post derogatory statements about their situations. Even if those accounts are set to private or if you have blocked involved parties, the chances of a judge seeing them are still exponentially high. The other party can request the submission of your social media posts as part of the discovery process. In addition to this, any outright negative statements may make you appear impulsive and angry — which never looks good in court. Despite that, these posts don’t even need to be negative in an obvious way to become an issue. There was a custody case in 2015 when a judge allowed a man to use

his wife’s Facebook profile as evidence. The wife constantly posted updates about her professional travels, and her husband believed it showed she didn’t have time to be a primary caregiver for their young children.

is why we advise clients to stay away from social media in general to avoid any of those possibilities. When it comes to divorce and custody cases, it can be an arduous legal process. Overwhelming emotions

tend to follow, and many people turn to social media to vent their feelings or message friends or family to discuss what is happening. I have seen plenty of clients The best way to prevent your social media from becoming evidence in court is to not post anything at all. It is better to be safe than sorry — so think before you post! Volunteer to Keep Your Body and Mind Active! Sharing Your Time Can Become Your Favorite Exercise

Staying active is increasingly vital to our health as we age. But pain, injury, or the lack of an exercise location can limit how we keep fit. Luckily, there is an easy way to have an active lifestyle without lifting weights or joining a gym: volunteer! Here are three reasons volunteering can be your new favorite exercise if you’re looking to flex some physical, mental, or social “muscle.” IT MOVES YOU. Volunteering offers different ways to move your body! Even small things like strolling through a park to pick up litter, navigating around a soup kitchen, or directing visitors at your local donation center keep you active. Most organizations are happy to modify more strenuous activities (like lifting heavy boxes or walking up a steep hill) to fit your abilities. So, even if

you’re just beginning an exercise habit, volunteering is a perfect initial step in your fitness journey. YOUR BRAIN EXPANDS. When you volunteer with others, you usually have a common goal, like feeding the community, cleaning up a park, or planting a garden. Joining others to accomplish a task provides a significant brain boost, and studies show camaraderie increases positive thoughts and feelings. On top of feeling better, volunteering keeps your mind agile. By working hard to solve a problem, you’re using more neural pathways, which helps keep mental decline at bay. YOU FORM CONNECTIONS. As we mentioned earlier, when you show up to volunteer, others usually attend

for the same reason. Socializing with the group can help you feel less isolated and more connected to others, and some of these people may even become friends when the job is complete. If you want to get active but don’t know of volunteer opportunities in your area, visit VolunteerMatch.org/ and enter your zip code to find local in-person options. Help yourself and others by making volunteer work your go-to exercise!

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