Divorcing? Be Careful What You Tell ChatGPT — It Could End Up in Court

ChatGPT divorce

Have you been using ChatGPT to search for divorce information or even talk through your feelings during this difficult time? Think twice about what you share. What most people don’t realize is that conversations with ChatGPT aren’t legally protected the way confidential conversations with a divorce lawyer or therapist are.

Here’s what you need to know.

In a recent podcast interview, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman made a candid admission: information shared with ChatGPT lacks privacy protections and could be used as evidence in court. “It’s very screwed up,” Altman said bluntly, referring to how people often share deeply personal information with the chatbot, assuming it’s confidential, when in reality, it’s not.

This is important for anyone going through a divorce to understand. Unlike communications with your attorney or a therapist, which are shielded by strong legal confidentiality protections, anything you type into ChatGPT could potentially be subpoenaed and used against you in a legal case.

What does that mean in practical terms? Imagine you asked ChatGPT something like, “How can I hide a bank account during divorce?” or “Can I move to another state with my kids without telling my ex?” Even if you were just curious, thinking out loud, or had no intention of acting on the advice, should your ex become aware of your chat logs, they could be used in court as evidence of your bad faith or outright wrongdoing.

ChatGPT Tips When You Are Going Through A Divorce

Many people assume that because ChatGPT feels like a private space, it’s a safe place to share. But it’s not: do not treat AI chats as privileged or confidential. Your ex may still have legitimate access to your devices through cloud backups and password sharing or family computers. While OpenAI/ChatGPT has implemented some safeguards, including optional settings to turn off chat history, these protections aren’t foolproof.

What should you do?

  • If you’re navigating a divorce, don’t rely on ChatGPT — or any AI — for sensitive, case-related conversations. Instead, speak directly with your attorney, who can provide confidential, legally sound advice.
  • Save AI tools for general education only, and avoid sharing any details that could later be misunderstood or used against you.
  • Use good “online hygiene” by using a private browser, regularly deleting search history, changing passwords to accounts, and disconnecting your devices and accounts from any cloud/password sharing services with your ex.

Divorce can bring up a lot of questions, and you deserve answers that won’t put your privacy in jeopardy.  To connect with one of our family law attorneys for a completely confidential consultation, please contact us today at 888-888-0919.

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