By Jennifer M. Paine

Attorney, Cordell & Cordell, P.C., Detroit office

Note: This is Part 2 of a two-part series on the secret cost of saying "I'm sorry." Click here to read Part 1.

Another public personality, shame-faced and sullen, said “I’m sorry” to an angrily silent room, his endorsers and busy cameras this past week. Whether you love him or hate him, believed him or could care less, Tiger Woods broadcast his apology worldwide to his wife, Elin Nordegren, and to you.

For you, those words you think are a deserved apology could be a dangerous admission.

Unfortunately, when spouses face mounting proof and/or wild accusations of an affair, like Tiger Woods, the temptation to speak up is great. What should you say if you want to say, “I’m sorry”? Forget the “I’m sorry for sleeping with other women and neglecting you and the children” apology a la Tiger Woods. Try these “friendly” admissions instead.

By Jennifer M. Paine

Attorney, Cordell & Cordell, P.C., Detroit office

Note: This is Part 1 of a two-part series on the secret cost of saying "I'm sorry." Click here to read Part 2.

Another public personality, shame-faced and sullen, said “I’m sorry” to an angrily silent room, his endorsers and busy cameras this past week. Whether you love him or hate him, believed him or could care less, Tiger Woods broadcast his apology worldwide to his wife, Elin Nordegren, and to you.

According to personality and crisis communication experts like W. Timothy Coombs, Ph.D., who recently spoke to Time Magazine about “the apology,” a public apology like his is a good thing because it conveys regret, ownership for the past and a commitment to change future behavior to wife, family, friends and, for you famous wrong-doers, fans. These are “all the key elements of an effective apology,” says Coombs.

Maybe for Tiger Woods.

For you, those words you think are a deserved apology could be a dangerous admission.

DadsDivorce Live host Rick Ortiz talks with Andy Williams about his company EVDense Corp. and the advantages of Digital Diary.

Seattle-based EVDense provides Software-as-a-Service applications for securely creating, storing, and retrieving electronic files and documents. EVDense products include EVDense Digital Diary that allows you to create and store your electronic files and collect the evidence you need to protect yourself in a divorce.

With Valentine’s Day - the ceremonial day of love - fast approaching, men who are separated or going through a divorce need to be extra careful in how you show their love to the new special someone in you life.

So before you tweet your love or post on her Facebook wall a dozen roses, remember that social networking sites are a “treasure trove of information” that are increasingly being used as evidence in divorce cases, according to Scott Trout, managing partner of domestic litigation firm Cordell & Cordell, P.C. 

Attorneys will scour your social network pages – and your girlfriend’s – for anything that could be used in the divorce case. In fact, 81% of the nation’s top divorce attorneys say they have seen an increase in the number of cases using social networking evidence during the past five years, according to a recent survey of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML).

Any time you are preparing to send a text message, an e-mail, a status update, or a wall post, stop and ask yourself, how many different ways can this be interpreted? 

Question: My question is what court document needs to be filed for a judge to reconsider a PFA (Protection from Abuse)?

 I have two daughters and my wife lied and obtained a PFA. Children and Youth Services did an investigation and found the allegations against me to be false/unfounded.