Can I Date While I’m Still Going Through a Divorce?

While many divorces are very difficult and emotionally draining there are some people who can’t wait to be done with their marriage and move on. For many people, getting divorced is the best thing that could happen to them given their circumstances. In fact, some individuals are ready to start dating again as soon as they can, even while their divorce is still pending; but is that a good idea?

Could Lead to a Messy Situation

There are many ways to look at this question, but essentially it boils down to how you want the divorce process and your settlement to go. While your dating habits will most likely not hurt you legally, it could lead to a much messier and longer divorce. That means you will probably be facing a much more expensive divorce as well.

Lean on the Side of Caution

While you may feel ready to jump back into the dating scene as soon as you can, there are many reasons that you might want to take your time and at least wait until the divorce papers are signed sealed and delivered, so-to-speak. Of course, one obvious reason is your own emotional well-being. Sometimes people can rush into something after ending another relationship only to regret it later. Plus, typically a divorce will take a lot out of you, including your time and attention, which means you might not have enough energy to give to a new relationship.

Could Affect Your Settlement

If you want to start dating someone before the divorce is final it could also be used against you as evidence that you were unfaithful to your spouse during your marriage. If you have children and this new love interest is going to be a part of their lives then you need to make sure that this person has the right character and values. If not, then your spouse could use it against you in a child custody battle. Likewise, if your divorce is still pending and your spouse discovers that you are already dating someone else it could negatively affect his or her feelings towards you even more.

Consider All the Pros and Cons

While you might not care what your soon to be ex thinks, your decision could put a big cramp on your divorce plans. By dating so soon your spouse could become very angry or hurt, which could lead him or her to fight against you even harder in the settlement process. That means what could have been a fairly simple and straightforward settlement process could instead suddenly turn ugly. If it gets too heated it could head to court and that means more arguing, more time and more money. Ultimately it’s your choice to date or not before your divorce is final, but you should weigh all the consequences before you make that decision.

We Have the Answers

Questions like this are what we deal with every day at the law Offices of Michael A. Robbins. We have been serving the people of Michigan for over 30 years with all of their divorce-related problems and issues. We know how to answer your questions and we can help you make sound choices that are designed to put you in the best post- divorce situation possible. If you are ready to end your marriage then please call us today at 248-646-7980. You can also reach us online by clicking here.