Text messages or emails can play an important role in your family court case. They can prove a party’s unreasonable positions, they can verify your efforts to do certain things, they can create enforceable binding agreements, and much more. Because of all this, it’s necessary that you check the veracity of any text messages that are used as exhibits in trials or evidentiary hearings.
Given modern technology, it’s incredibly easy for someone without any kind of tech savvy to fabricate or alter text messages to make them appear to say things that were never stated. It’s also very easy to introduce text messages of significant volume that could make it difficult to read through and find any such fabrications.
Because of this, it’s imperative that any time text messages are provided as exhibits that you go through and review them to make sure that what they say is indeed what was said between the parties to the conversation. Discovering text messages or emails have been altered when you’re sitting in a courtroom is too late to find evidence to prove that the communications have been modified. If you learn about it ahead of time, you can prepare sufficiently to show what has happened.
Also note, that it’s important that you not fabricate evidence or try to use altered communications yourself as evidence in a court proceeding. Not only is it immoral, it’s unethical and can result in a number of potential negative civil ramifications, attorney’s fees or other sanctions against you. It can potentially result in criminal charges. And, if none of those things, can result in your credibility being completely destroyed in your court case.
Check any messages that are going to be used as evidence. Don’t alter them yourself. Contact an attorney if you need any help or advice with any of this.