Courts throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania expect and require that both parties involved in a custody matter should co-parent and communicate with one another in the best interests of their children. The two most common forms of communication between co-parents involved in a custody matter are email and text messaging. While texting and emailing can be convenient mediums for parents to communicate with, it is important to remember that anything you say via text message or email can be used as evidence in any court proceeding. Pennsylvania and New Jersey courts will now admit text messages and emails as evidence which can be used to demonstrate how a parent is hostile, uncooperative, and/or violating the terms of the custody order.
Even if you are involved in a high conflict custody matter, it is important to keep any text communications between you and the other parent cordial and respectful. It is helpful to remember when writing text messages and e-mails to the other parent that a judge may be viewing the messages one day and will most likely take these messages into consideration when making decisions regarding your child.
THE FOREGOING IS ONLY A GENERAL DISCUSSION OF THE LAW AND SHOULD NOT BE INTERPRETED AS LEGAL ADVICE. IF YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC LEGAL QUESTION, PLEASE CONTACT OUR OFFICE TO DISCUSS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS.
