Can Text Messages Be Used In Court?
Court Cases:
Whenever a dispute arises between individuals, they can get the help of the law to arrive at a solution. Courts handle all kinds of cases. They must dispense justice and ensure every individual’s rights are protected. But depending on the type of case, rules can vary. A divorce case would not be handled in the same way as a criminal case. The powers that regulate the court proceedings will be different for each subject. Every party involved in a patient has to turn to evidence to present their side of the story. But there are rules of evidence that protect people from fabricated stories and fake proofs.
Text Messages:
Almost every individual has a cell phone these days. Our phones not only help us stay connected to social media but also allow us to engage in conversation with our friends and family members through text messages. We can send a text message to anyone as long as we have their phone number. In today’s world, finding someone’s contact information is not that difficult. Once you have someone’s contact information, you can chat with them via text. But do these conversations hold any legal value? If you know your messages can affect your child custody case or put reasonable doubt on you, you would be more careful with them. An average adult relies heavily on texting, but if they know the impact of their words, they wouldn’t say everything that comes to their minds.
Can Text Messages Be Used in Court?
Everyone who has ever texted with friends wouldn’t want their messages leaked. They have the right to keep their texting private. But they must present evidence when they become involved in a legal dispute. The question is whether text messages can be used in court, but there is no simple answer. Text messages can be used in court if necessary for the case and fulfill all the requirements. Here are some essential facts about presenting messages in civil and criminal courts:
- Hearsay:
A hearsay rule prevents parties from presenting electronic evidence in court. This saves the defendant from illegally obtained information. However, electronic messages can be shown in the court as an exception to the hearsay rule. The exception only becomes applicable if the electronic messages were exchanged between you and the opposing party. If you exchanged incriminating texts with someone not a party to the case, they will be considered hearsay. - Authenticity:
Remember that your messages must fulfill specific requirements; otherwise, the court won’t accept them. If you are presenting text message evidence, then it should be authentic. The date and time should be visible in the original texts. You should not have hidden or deleted particular messages. Ensure that an experienced attorney approves the text records if you don’t want to lose the case. Only show relevant messages if you don’t want to violate any privacy laws. Discuss your case with a person with the right legal experience before you decide to proceed with the evidence. - Be Prepared:
Remember that you don’t have exclusive access to the textual evidence. The opposing side could use your reply texts against you even if you have deleted them from your cell phone. They can even submit your phone records in detail, including your call logs. They can also get lawful access to your photos folder under certain circumstances. Before submitting relevant, admissible evidence, be prepared for the counter-attack. Take extra precautions to avoid running into any problems. - Present Evidence in the Right Way:
If you have to share only a small number of texts, then you can take a screenshot and get it printed. As long as everything necessary, including the contact information and full name of the other party, is visible in the screenshot, it will get accepted by the court. If you don’t know the screenshot process, you can turn to YouTube for help. You can also move the messages to your iCloud and then access them through the computer to print them. The screenshot will be admissible in court if you have an iPhone or an Android device. - Know the Rules:
In the United States, every state may have different rules of evidence. The rules may also vary depending on the case. Knowing when you can present textual proof and when you can’t is better. Matters related to a child custody case, criminal offenses, small claims, marital assets, personal injury, etc., can be resolved with the help of cellular device data. But a cell carrier might also have specific rules regarding the sharing of messages in a court. - Understand the Limitations:
Today’s cell phones have many features, so it is essential to understand the limitations when collecting evidence. If you can share electronic messages with the court, it may not mean you can share direct messages. Social media websites like Twitter or Instagram might have rules against that. Knowing what phone records you can share with the court is also good. If the phone bill won’t help you with the divorce proceedings, you should not present it to the court.
Can text messages be used in the California divorce court?
In California, the general rules regarding screenshots of text messages are not significantly different than the rest of the country. Messages are more critical for cases than phone calls and GPS data. But before you decide to take the evidence to the divorce court, you should talk to your divorce attorney. You can create problems for yourself while trying to paint your spouse negatively.
You can share their chat to prove they have neglected their parenting duties or made unnecessary purchases from the family account. But if you want to share incriminating messages between your spouse and their friend, you should talk to divorce lawyers first. In any case, you should not unlock your partner’s Android or iPhone yourself to spy on them, as that would weaken your case.
Can I use emails and social media in court?
Screenshots of the messages, emails and social media posts of the opposing party can also be helpful in your case. However, there are different rules regarding how such information can be accessed. For instance, law enforcement cannot submit illegally obtained information in court, even if the data is correct. Invasion of privacy will automatically tip the scale in the opposing party’s favor. It is best to tread carefully when it comes to legal matters. Individuals should consult qualified attorneys before taking any step.
Generally, everything on social media, including YouTube Series, Facebook posts, and Twitter messages, can be used in litigation. However, the information must have been obtained legally to be admissible in court. Reliable evidence can tip the scale of your offer, so you should carefully gather all the relevant data.
