What to Consider When You’re Considering Divorce: Digital Divorce: How to Protect Your Online Life Before, During, and After Divorce
We often think of divorce as the splitting of physical things: the house, the car, the couch. But in today’s world, your digital life is just as real—and just as vulnerable.
Shared streaming services, joint cloud storage, online bank logins, passwords saved in browsers, even smart home devices—these are all part of the digital landscape that needs attention during divorce. Overlooking these assets and access points can leave you exposed, financially or emotionally, long after the divorce is finalized.
Below, we’ll break down the key digital areas you need to secure, why they matter, who can help, and simple action steps you can take today.
1. Change Your Passwords—All of Them
Why this matters:
If you shared passwords or used the same ones for years, your ex may still have access to your email, cloud storage, bank logins, or even your private journal apps. That’s not just invasive—it can be dangerous.
Who can help:
A cybersecurity consultant or IT support service can help you set up strong, unique passwords and two-factor authentication across accounts.
Action step:
Create a new, secure password for:
Email
Bank and credit cards
iCloud or Google
Amazon, PayPal, Venmo
Health portals
Social media accounts
Use a password manager like 1Password or Bitwarden to store and generate secure passwords.
2. Secure Your Devices and Cloud Access
Why this matters:
If your devices sync across iCloud or Google accounts, your ex might still be able to see texts, photos, calendars, or location data—even after separation.
Who can help:
An IT professional or Apple/Google support specialist can walk you through unpairing and unsyncing your devices.
Action step:
Sign out of all shared iCloud or Google accounts
Set up your own Apple ID or Google account
Turn off shared location services like “Find My” or Google Location Sharing
Reset your device backups to a new, private cloud
3. Separate or Close Shared Digital Accounts
Why this matters:
Joint accounts—like Netflix, Spotify, Amazon Prime, or even shared photo libraries—can blur boundaries and cause continued entanglement. You deserve privacy.
Who can help:
A divorce coach or digital organizer can help list and untangle shared services you may have forgotten.
Action step:
List all digital services you share. Decide which to close, which to transfer to your own account, and which require billing updates. Cancel anything you no longer want linked.
4. Review Your Online Banking and Payment Apps
Why this matters:
If your ex still has access to apps like PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or your bank logins, they may be able to monitor or move funds.
Who can help:
A Certified Divorce Financial Analyst (CDFA) or banking advisor can help you protect your accounts during the financial separation.
Action step:
Open your own bank account (if you don’t have one)
Remove your name from joint accounts where possible
Revoke third-party access in payment apps
Set up alerts for all transactions
5. Lock Down Your Social Media
Why this matters:
Social media can be a source of emotional distress, legal missteps, or even surveillance during divorce. Protecting your accounts helps enforce digital boundaries.
Who can help:
A divorce attorney can advise you on what’s appropriate to post during the legal process. A social media strategist can help set new privacy settings and digital boundaries.
Action step:
Change all passwords
Review and tighten privacy settings
Mute or block your ex (if necessary)
Remove old shared albums or tagged content
Avoid venting online—especially during active legal proceedings
6. Backup and Protect Your Digital Records
Why this matters:
Photos, videos, tax returns, scanned documents, text conversations—these may be important for emotional closure or legal purposes.
Who can help:
A legal coach or therapist can help you decide what’s worth preserving and what you can let go of.
Action step:
Create a secure, personal cloud or external hard drive backup of:
Personal photos and videos
Scanned financial documents
Communication records (if relevant)
Important legal or health files
7. Monitor for Digital Harassment or Tracking
Why this matters:
In some high-conflict divorces, one partner may monitor the other digitally—through shared apps, smart devices, or even spyware. This is not only unethical—it can be illegal.
Who can help:
A digital safety expert, cybersecurity specialist, or domestic violence advocate can assess your devices for spyware and help you create a digital safety plan.
Action step:
Run a spyware scan (on phone and laptop)
Check smart home apps for shared access
Disable any smart tracking tools in cars, homes, or apps
Document and report any digital harassment
8. Create a Digital Security Plan for the Future
Why this matters:
Even after divorce is finalized, your digital boundaries need maintenance. A plan helps you stay protected, organized, and at peace.
Who can help:
A divorce coach or IT consultant can help you build a future-facing digital life that’s private, safe, and fully yours.
Action step:
Make a 30-minute appointment with yourself to:
Review your digital footprint
Update all passwords every 6–12 months
Remove old devices or inactive accounts
Store login credentials in a secure password manager
In a world where our entire lives are online, protecting your digital space is just as essential as safeguarding your home, your heart, or your finances. Divorce is a fresh start—and that includes a digital reset.
At Fresh Starts Registry, we help you build a full support team—including legal, emotional, and tech-savvy professionals—who can walk with you through the messy, modern parts of divorce.
Don’t forget to grab our free e-book, Your Divorce Support Team, filled with 250+ expert-vetted questions to help you choose the right professionals—including those who can help with digital security and privacy.