Mokena Attorney for Divorces Involving Harassment

Lawyers Help Victims of Stalking and Electronic Monitoring in Orland Park and Will County

During your divorce, you may feel overwhelmed by the avalanche of practical and legal issues that you will need to address, and it is normal to experience some emotional difficulties during this time. However, you may face some additional worries if you are experiencing any form of harassment from your ex-spouse. In these cases, you need a skilled divorce lawyer on your side to ensure that your rights are protected and your family is safe from harm.

The family law attorneys of Wakenight & Associates, P.C. have a combined total of more than 95 years of experience, and we have worked with clients in a large number of hostile divorce cases. We can help you understand your legal options when you are the victim of stalking, monitoring, or harassment during your divorce.

Harassment During Divorce

Due to the strong emotions involved in a divorce, spouses may behave in an unreasonable manner. Whether they believe they can repair the relationship, are attempting to intimidate you, or suffer from mental health issues, your former partner may display a variety of dangerous behaviors, including:

• Constantly making phone calls, leaving voicemails, or sending text or email messages to you, your children, or other family members.
• Waiting outside your home or workplace or following you around in public.
• Coming into your home without permission or refusing to leave you alone when asked.
• Sending unwanted gifts to you at home or work.
• Spreading rumors about you to your family, friends, or coworkers.
• Verbally abusing or threatening you or your family members.
• Threatening to harm themselves if you do not meet their demands.
• Posting personal rants, information or degrading you on social media.

A spouse or former partner may face serious criminal consequences for harassment or stalking. Unfortunately, many victims of this type of harassment do not realize that their former partners' behavior is illegal, and they may not know about the legal options available to them. If you fear for your family's safety, or if your ex-spouse acts in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable, you should consult with your attorney to determine whether you can obtain an order of protection that will prevent your ex from contacting or harming you.

Cyberstalking and Online Harassment

Most people use computers, smartphones, and other electronic devices on a daily basis, and they may share information via email, text messages, and social media. The ease of access to this type of information may lead a person to attempt to electronically monitor their former spouse in hopes of gaining leverage in their divorce case. You should be aware of potential forms of online stalking and harassment, including:

• Attempting to access your online accounts, including email, social media, or bank accounts.
• Installing tracking software that monitors your computer keystrokes.
• Sending you threatening messages via email, text, or social media.
• Sharing your personal information or discussing the details of your divorce on social networks.
• Attempting to monitor your phone calls, text messages, or other communications.
• Installing GPS trackers or electronic monitoring or recording devices in your home or car.

These types of acts are considered eavesdropping, which is a felony offense in Illinois that can be punished by large fines and substantial jail time. If your ex-spouse has attempted to monitor you electronically without your permission, your attorney can help you gather evidence of this activity and work with you to determine whether you should press charges against them. In addition, Illinois law states that information obtained electronically without your permission cannot be used as evidence in a civil lawsuit, including a divorce case.

Contact a New Lenox Family Law Attorney

At Wakenight & Associates, P.C., we can help you make sure you are free from stalking or harassment during your divorce, and in an emergency, we can help you escape a dangerous situation and protect your family's safety. If you are concerned about these issues, contact us at 815-727-6144 to set up a free consultation. We represent spouses in divorce cases in Mokena, Orland Park, Frankfort, Orland Hills, Homer Glen, Tinley Park, Oak Forest, Joliet, Lockport, and Will County.