Legal Advice Part 1: The Internet Doesn’t Lie?

I saw a commercial on TV recently where a man and a woman are talking.  She makes a comment about having seen something on the internet, which he tells her isn’t true.  She responds, “It must be true.  They don’t put anything on the internet that isn’t true.  Oh, look, here comes my date.  He’s a French model I found on the internet.”   A man who is obviously NOT a French model walks into the picture, says, “Bon Joor” to the women and off they go.

Like that woman, I have found that a lot of my clients are getting legal information off the internet.  Unfortunately, that information is sometimes incorrect.  For example, a couple of weeks ago, the wife of a couple in mediation with me was under the impression that child support was paid until a child reaches age 26.  She was convinced that her ex-husband was shorting her because he wasn’t paying child support for their child who was under 26 years of age.  It took a lot to convince her that the age of emancipation in New York was, in fact 21!  Actually, I’m still not sure she agrees with me because she was totally convinced that she should be paid child support until her child turns 26.

What I think happened is that she was doing some research on the internet and came across an article that outlined the new health insurance provision where parents can cover their adult children until age 26.  But that only applies to health insurance and doesn’t mean you have a legal obligation to support your child until they’re 26.

It occurred to me that I should caution people about where they get their information because sometimes that information is not accurate, especially when it comes from the internet.  People either misinterpret what they are reading, or don’t realize it applies in some other state but not necessarily in New York.  And, you have no way of knowing whether that information is being written or posted by someone with real knowledge.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t use the internet for research, but if you have a question, understand that you are not necessarily getting the right answer.  It is always a good idea to check with a professional such as your divorce mediator before you make any decisions based on information found on the internet.

In Divorce Mediation, a skilled mediator is trained to provide you with the information you will need to reach a fair settlement.  And if your mediator is also an attorney, he or she can provide you with legal information as well.  So surf the net all you want.  Just be sure to verify any information you come across with a bona fide expert before you begin making decisions that you might come to regret.

Oh, and by the way – – Bon Jour!!

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