All too frequently, the issue of pornography comes up in divorces across the state of Texas.  Whether it is an addiction to pornography, sexting a photo to a spouse or paramour, or videos of sexual acts, pornography has taken the divorce stage front and center.

Recently, the Dallas Morning News reported a story of a woman by the name of “Lisa” whose ex-boyfriend posted nude photos of her he had secretly taken to dozens of websites.  Lisa did not become aware of the nude photos until she began receiving threats.  The Dallas police and prosecutors are building a case against Lisa’s ex-boyfriend for his online rampage and cyber bullying. 

Software Company McAfee released the following statement earlier this month:

“68 percent of more than 1,000 American adults in McAfee’s annual survey said that they have shared intimate messages or photos from their cellphone.  While that shouldn’t be such a big deal because it’s consenting adults doing it amongst each other, the fact of the matter is that we know throughout history that half of all relationships end and they are communicating this digital data to people who may very well not be in their life a month of a year from now.”

No matter how much you are in love or how much you trust your significant other and/or spouse, I strongly advise any person to not distribute or participate in any form of pornography – Unless you do not mind this exchange being viewed by an attorney, a judge or possibly a jury. The McAfee survey was also quoted as stating “roughly 9 percent of the survey respondents said an ex has threatened to post risqué photos of them online and about 57 percent of those people said the threat was carried out.”  The divorce process can be nasty and people can say and do things they would not ordinarily do under different circumstances.  Do not give your spouse any ammunition. 

 

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Photo of Michelle O'Neil Michelle O'Neil

Michelle May O’Neil has 30+ years’ experience representing small business owners, professionals, and individuals in litigation related to family law matters such as divorce, child custody, and complex property division. Described by one lawyer as “a lethal combination of sweet-and-salty”, Ms. O’Neil exudes…

Michelle May O’Neil has 30+ years’ experience representing small business owners, professionals, and individuals in litigation related to family law matters such as divorce, child custody, and complex property division. Described by one lawyer as “a lethal combination of sweet-and-salty”, Ms. O’Neil exudes genuine compassion for her client’s difficulties, yet she can be relentless when in pursuit of a client’s goals. One judge said of Ms. O’Neil, “She cannot be out-gunned, out-briefed, or out-lawyered!”

Family Law Specialist

Ms. O’Neil became a board-certified family law specialist by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in 1997 and has maintained her certification since that time. While representing clients in litigation before the trial court is an important part of her practice, Ms. O’Neil also handles appellate matters in the trial court, courts of appeals and Texas Supreme Court. Lawyers frequently consult with Ms. O’Neil on their litigation cases about specialized legal issues requiring particularized attention both at the trial court and appellate levels. This gives her a unique perspective and depth of perception that benefits both her litigation and appellate clients.

Top Lawyers in Texas and America

Ms. O’Neil has been named to the list of Texas SuperLawyers for many years, a peer-voted honor given to only about 5% of the lawyers in the state of Texas. Ms. O’Neil received the special honor of being named by Texas SuperLawyers as one of the Top 50 Women Lawyers in Texas, Top 100 Lawyers in Texas, and Top 100 Lawyers in DFW for multiple years. She was named one of the Best Lawyers in America and received an “A-V” peer review rating by Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directories for the highest quality legal ability and ethical standards.

Author and Speaker

A noted author, Ms. O’Neil released her second book Basics of Texas Divorce Law in November 2010, with a second edition released in 2013, and a third edition expected in 2015.  Her first book, All About Texas Law and Kids, was published in September 2009 by Texas Lawyer Press. In 2012, Ms. O’Neil co-authored the booklets What You Need To Know About Common Law Marriage In Texas and Social Study Evaluations.  The State Bar of Texas and other providers of continuing education for attorneys frequently enlist Ms. O’Neil to provide instruction to attorneys on topics of her expertise in the family law arena.