THE internet is playing "an increasingly prominent role in divorce cases," according to Liverpool-based awyers.
They say people are increasingly turning to social networking sites such as Facebook to vent their anger, take revenge or simply set the record straight.
The most recent example came when Lancashire millionaire businessman Gary Dean posted details of his wife's divorce settlement via his own website in a bid to silence local gossips he claimed had branded him ruthless and greedy.
The pair, who have four children, divorced after 19 years of marriage. Mr Dean paid a lump sum of £3,719,000 plus £15,000 per child per year until the age of 17 years or the end of full time education.
He will also pay school fees and Mrs Dean keeps her jewellery, two cars and two private number plates.
Mr Dean, 47, was advised on his divorce and the implications of publishing details on the internet by Liverpool-based lawyers Quinn Barrow.
Managing partner Paul Barrow said: "I was certainly fairly surprised when Gary told me he was planning to put details of his divorce on the website.
"It is a fairly unusual course of action as most clients, understandably, want to keep the particulars of their divorce under wraps. We checked the content of the site and Mr Dean also took specialist advice from a defamation lawyer.
"Although this case was certainly a break from the norm it does seem that the internet is playing an increasingly prominent role in divorce cases."
Last month, former actress and playwright Tricia Walsh-Smith posted a video on YouTube making a series of very public accusations against her ex, New York theatre magnate Philip Smith.
In February this year, lawyers warned that the first Facebook divorce was imminent and last month, the co-founder of the online encyclopaedia Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales, broke up with his girlfriend via his entry on the website.
Earlier this year, an actress called Jane Slavin got her own back on composer Michael Nyman after he dumped her by creating a honeytrap via the internet.