When Should You Date After Divorce?

After ending a marriage, many people want to find love again. While some people may be hesitant to enter the dating world after a divorce, others find the idea quite exciting. While everyone has the right to try and find happiness, it is important to note that when you start dating again could impact your divorce. This is particularly true if your divorce is not yet finalized, but even once a settlement is signed, dating could still impact your case. Below, our Orlando divorce lawyer explains further.

Dating Before Your Divorce is Final 

Under state law, you are not prohibited from dating while divorce proceedings are ongoing. Still, you should wait until your divorce case is final before you reenter the dating scene. Until your divorce case is final, you are still legally technically married and you remain so until your case is closed. If you date before then,  your spouse may argue that you are committing adultery. That could hurt you during certain parts of the divorce proceedings. For example, if it is found that you spent marital funds on the new relationship, that could negatively impact property division hearings.

How Dating Impacts Your Children 

Starting a new relationship will always affect your children. If your divorce is ongoing, your spouse may argue that spending time with your new partner is not in the children’s best interests. If they are successful with that argument, it could impact the amount of time you spend with them. Even if your divorce case is already finalized, your spouse can petition the court for a child custody modification, particularly if your new partner has a criminal history or a history of substance abuse or domestic violence.

How Dating Can Affect Alimony 

If your divorce is finalized and you received alimony during the proceedings, dating again can impact those payments. Dating alone is not enough to modify or terminate alimony payments. If the relationship becomes very serious, though, your former spouse could argue that you are receiving financial support from your new partner and so, no longer need the full alimony payments you were awarded during the divorce. If you move in with your new partner, this will only strengthen your former spouse’s argument for modifying or terminating alimony.

It is important to note that if you remarry, that will automatically terminate your alimony payments. Your former spouse will not need to petition the courts to stop paying alimony. From the date of your wedding they can simply stop making payments so, this is an important consideration post-divorce.

Our Divorce Lawyer in Orlando Can Advise On All Aspects of Your Case 

During and after a divorce, you will have many issues to face. At Anderson & Ferrin, P.A., our Orlando divorce lawyer can advise on all elements of your case to make sure you do not face any negative legal implications. Call us now at 407-412-7041 or reach out to us online to schedule a free initial consultation and to learn more about how we can assist with your case.

Sources:

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0061/0061.html

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0061/Sections/0061.13.html