Below is some general information about family law that you might find interesting. It is not legal advice; any such advice should come from an attorney who is working for you and knows the facts of your specific situation. These pieces of information will not be exhaustive in one area, but rather, address different topics at various times.
Whatever you put on social media, or that others post about you, may arise as evidence in a case against you. If you post a picture of yourself with your new lover, or of yourself inebriated, or smoking marijuana, you should anticipate it surfacing in your case.
Talk to a family lawyer before talking to your spouse. When contemplating divorce or separation, it is useful to speak to a family lawyer before you speak to your spouse. This sounds counter-intuitive, but planning your exit strategy and assembling data in advance can save you significant costs and eliminate some stress. After all, knowledge is power. If you cannot have an attorney meeting beforehand, do so as soon as possible after you have spoken to your spouse or significant other. This is important to do even if you hope to save your marriage or relationship as the knowledge imparted to you in such an information-gathering session can help guide you in marriage counseling or therapy as well as in a relationship-ending situation.
Fairfax Circuit Court Judge David A. Oblon provided guidance on good reasons to seal a divorce case in his opinion in Falkoff v. Falkoff, issued December 6, 2019. Although Judge Oblon's letter opinion is not precedential, it does provide insight into the factors a court considers, or should consider, when contemplating a request to seal a divorce case.