Places to Store Critical Evidence During a Divorce
Posted on: 16 January 2019
There are many different reasons that couples decide to end their marriage, with some couples reaching this conclusion together and some spouses making the decision themselves. It's possible that your spouse's behavior—namely an extramarital affair—leads you to decide to file for divorce. In this at-fault scenario, you'll want to have a lot of evidence about the affair that you can use, especially if the divorce proceedings get nasty. This evidence could come in several forms, including photos from a private investigator and even a conversation that you recorded of you and your spouse talking. Here are some considerations for storing this evidence.
At Your Attorney's Office
It's a bad idea to keep any evidence in your home, as your spouse could destroy it. This could hurt your ability to prove fault in the divorce proceedings. One option is to provide your divorce attorney with any critical evidence. He or she will keep these documents and media files safe under lock and key, and it's highly unlikely that your spouse would ever even attempt to get them back. You'll be sharing this evidence with your attorney anyway, so having him or her provide safekeeping is always a good idea.
In a Storage Unit
If you're not yet ready to speak to a divorce attorney but you plan to do so soon and you know that your evidence will be valuable, consider renting a small storage unit. You can often rent these spaces from month to month, so the cost of doing so will be minimal. Additionally, you can rent the smallest unit available, and while it will provide far more space than what you need, you'll have a high degree of confidence that your items will remain safe. Do not divulge the existence of this unit to your spouse.
With a Trusted Friend
Another option, and one that won't cost you any money if you're worried about finances with the divorce looming, is to entrust the evidence to a close friend. Of course, you'll want to choose someone who will neither view the content that you're providing nor tell anyone about it. Don't pick someone that your spouse knows well, as he or she could attempt to manipulate this friend into sharing this content. A good choice is someone with whom you're very close but who has never met your spouse and thus wouldn't have any desire to help him or her.
Contact a divorce lawyer for more advice on how to proceed in this situation.
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