You’ve made the decision to pursue the divorce. You have done everything in your power to make it work, but the connected web between you and your spouse is broken, and it’s time to head down another path and divide the marital assets, share custody of the children and move into a new home. But what if your ex-spouse has all your digital contact and login information? Or is just plain nosy? Banking, email, online shopping, medical records, streaming services, Zoom accounts, and other information subject to digital privacy may still be shared with your former partner. In such a situation, a self-imposed “digital divorce” may also be needed to remove or change shared passwords. In honor of October being Cybersecurity Awareness Month, it’s time to have an honest conversation with your ex-spouse about how to handle these situations.

In this highly connected age, the division of assets in a divorce has taken on a whole new dimension given the prevalence of digital assets and access. Digital assets and technology are now a common point of contention in divorces compared to even five years ago. The first thing we tell our clients is to make an inventory list of shared online accounts, devices and passwords. Have a family email? You thought it was a great idea when you created it, but it’s time to get off Hotmail, sign up for a new email account, and deactivate the other address after downloading your necessary contacts. The same goes for your shared streaming services, computer logins, shopping sites, and even airline portals. Any shared site or account should be updated with a new email.