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Changing Login Details During a Divorce: What You Need to Be Aware Of
Updating Passwords and Usernames During a Divorce
If you are married, you most likely share some of your online login details with your spouse. From joint bank accounts and online payment details to profiles on certain social media platforms — sharing passwords usually makes life much easier.
But what happens when you are in the middle of a divorce, trying to move on and start anew? Should you simply change your login details, or is the situation slightly more complicated?
Changing Your Personal Login Details
If you are going through a divorce, your lawyer will advise you to change all of your login details as soon as you can. These include the account details of your personal bank accounts, as well as emails and profiles on social media platforms.
Before you change any of these details, it is essential to change the password to your main email account. Doing so will ensure that your spouse cannot use the email to recover old passwords and utilize them to log in to your other profiles later on.
Although this process might seem draining and complicated, it is indeed necessary. To avoid becoming overwhelmed, try doing it one step at a time. Change your email and credit/debit card details first, and then proceed to other less important accounts.
What About Joint Accounts?
Joint accounts are a trickier matter, so you should never change their login credentials without consulting your lawyer. First and foremost, that is the case for joint bank accounts, as locking your spouse out of something that lawfully belongs to them isn’t a wise idea.
Thus, consult your lawyer before making any decisions. In most cases, you will be allowed to change any passwords to shared socials by making a deal with your spouse. However, the details for joint bank accounts will most likely have to remain the same until the divorce is finalized.
Do You Always Have to Change Your Login Details?
In some cases, spouses do not share login details at all. However, changing your passwords is a wise idea even in such a situation, as maintaining your privacy is of the utmost importance. You should especially do that if the divorce is not amicable and you know that your spouse has a habit of spying.
If you want to go a step further, you can also change the privacy settings on your social media profiles. Nowadays, most platforms give you the option to keep your profile hidden from those who do not follow you. Therefore, your spouse will neither have access to your passwords nor will they be able to see your posts.
Do You Always Have to Change Your Login Details?
When it comes to a divorce, speaking with a divorce lawyer can help you go through the process as painlessly as possible. However, it is especially important to have legal help if you believe that your spouse is accessing your accounts without authorization. In such cases, legal help is essential for protecting your privacy, rights, and interests.
