If you’re going through a divorce, it’s important to stay aware of any actions that occur on your financial accounts. Technology can be a useful part of your plan to keep your money safe.

Use these strategies to take advantage of technology to protect your accounts:  

1. Change your personal account passwords. If your ex knows your passwords, it’s essential that you change them immediately.

2. Monitor accounts with online tools. Does your bank or other financial service offer apps and online tools to help you monitor accounts? These tools can send you automatic alerts about deposits, withdrawals, and other actions.

• If your ex makes a transaction that goes against the divorce agreement, these tools will give you a record and help you keep track of it. You can use this information to inform your lawyer and the judge.
• These tools can also help you manage your own personal finances during this challenging time as well. Use them to keep a close watch on direct deposits, automatic withdrawals, and your balance.

3. Monitor social media activity. In divorce cases, lawyers and judges are now using social media activity from both partners to make decisions about alimony, child support, and other financial matters.

• Be careful about what you post on social media, particularly posts that have anything to do with money, your job, your lifestyle, or your children. Once you post something, it can always be copied and saved, so deleting it may not be enough to protect you.

4. Figure out how to handle joint accounts. Joint accounts become an issue during a divorce. It’s important for you and your partner to agree on how you’ll handle the joint accounts and how to use them during the divorce. For example, you may want to keep them open temporarily to pay for household expenses.

• If you keep the accounts open, then you both may need online access to them.
• Use the technology that your bank offers to monitor these joint accounts closely.

5. Be aware of tracking software and tools. Couples who are going through difficult divorces sometimes resort to using tracking software and tools. These tools can enable your partner to see and monitor your activities. This includes financial activities that occur online or on your phone.

• These technology tools can show up on your devices and affect your finances.

• In some areas, it isn’t legal to use this type of software or programs without the other person’s consent. If you’re considering these options during a divorce, it’s smart to consult a lawyer and check the local laws first.

• If you become a victim of this type of software during a divorce, notify your lawyer and the judge. This can have a big impact on your divorce case. It can also affect custody battles that may be occurring at the same time. Keep track of all the software and programs you find on your devices.

Divorce can be a difficult time for both parties, and your personal finances can suffer. It’s important to be proactive about protecting your finances as you separate and divorce. Following these tips will help you feel more secure about your finances.

Silvana Jimenez