How Instagram posts exposed a $100000 lie in a family law fight – The Sydney Morning Herald

Social media posts are increasingly being used in evidence in court fights between separating couples, legal experts say, and online comments can have serious consequences in property and parenting disputes. Jodylee Bartal, an accredited specialist in family law and a principal solicitor at Melbourne-based firm KHQ Lawyers, said “social media can be used and is regularly used in evidence” in court. Even “liking” negative comments on social media could have consequences in a family law fight, legal experts say. Credit: Stephen Kiprillis In one case, Bartal acted in a property dispute for a woman who estimated her former husband’s wine collection was worth more than $100,000, while he estimated it was worth less than $10,000. The value of the collection was relevant to the division of assets. His claims unravelled in court because he had an “Instagram account dedicated to his wine purchases”, Bartal said. Information from the posts “was used to issue subpoenas to the wine storage facility, and to several auction houses where the majority of the expensive wines were purchased” in the 12 months before the trial, Bartal said. “The screenshots of the Instagram posts were tendered in evidence.” Bartal said she told clients to “expect your
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