When a relationship ends, the arguments are no longer only about the house, the money and the children. They are about phones and passwords, shared cloud accounts, location sharing that nobody switched off, and devices that quietly report on the person who used to live there. Separation has gone digital, and so have the risks.
If you are in immediate danger, call 999. The National Domestic Abuse Helpline is free and open 24 hours a day on 0808 2000 247.
From our team
In Digital Divorce: The Separation No One Plans For, Matthew Newton, our Director of Investigations and Crisis Response, explains why digital separation should be part of the first conversation in any divorce or business split, and what lawyers, family offices and private clients should do early.
Phones and stalkerware
Monitoring apps, sometimes called stalkerware or spouseware, can be installed on a phone in a few minutes by someone who knows the passcode. Once in place they can share messages, photos, location and call history without any obvious sign. Batteries that drain quickly, settings that change on their own and an ex-partner who seems to know too much are common warning signs. If you suspect monitoring, avoid deleting anything, because the app itself is evidence. Our mobile device forensics team can examine the phone properly.
Trackers and AirTags
Small Bluetooth trackers are cheap, easy to hide and designed to follow belongings. In the wrong hands they follow people: in a car’s wheel arch, a child’s school bag or the lining of a handbag. We find and document them through vehicle sweeps and residential sweeps.
Shared accounts and location sharing
Family sharing, shared email, joint cloud storage and “Find My” settings are set up in happier times and rarely revisited. After separation, an ex-partner may still see your photos, your location or your messages without hacking anything at all. We help people work out what is still shared and, where it matters, record who accessed what and when, using cloud and email forensics.
Smart homes
Video doorbells, indoor cameras, smart speakers and heating controls are often linked to one person’s account. When that person moves out, they can still see who comes and goes. A residential sweep checks for hidden devices and misused connected technology.
Hidden assets and digital money
In financial proceedings in England and Wales, both parties must give full and frank disclosure of their finances. Cryptocurrency, online trading accounts, business payment platforms and money moved shortly before a separation can all be hard to see. Our investigators work with family solicitors to trace assets lawfully, and our digital forensics experts can analyse the records.
Evidence a court can rely on
Digital evidence only helps if it has been obtained lawfully and preserved properly. Accessing another person’s phone, email or accounts without permission can be a criminal offence and can seriously damage your own case. We work with family solicitors so that evidence is gathered the right way, whether through matrimonial surveillance, investigations into child arrangements concerns or an independent expert report.
Questions people ask
Can I look at my partner’s phone to find out what is going on?
Not without their permission. Even if you know the passcode, accessing someone else’s device or accounts can be an offence, and anything found that way may be unusable. Speak to a solicitor or to us first.
How can I tell if my own phone is being monitored?
There is no single sign. Unexplained battery drain, unfamiliar apps or settings, and someone knowing things they should not are reasons to have it checked. A forensic examination gives a clear answer.
Will the evidence be accepted in court?
That is always for the court to decide, but evidence that was obtained lawfully, preserved properly and explained clearly stands the best chance.
For a confidential conversation, ideally from a phone you trust, contact us. Family solicitors can instruct us directly.
