Why You Shouldn’t Date During A Divorce

After getting out of a bad marriage, the first thing on your mind may be to find a new relationship. Now that you’re free, you may want to start dating again. But is it a good idea to rush into a new relationship before your divorce is finalized?

While there’s technically nothing stopping you from jumping into the dating pool right away, most people will tell you that this isn’t a good idea. It’s not illegal to do so, but it can affect the outcome of your divorce. Plus, it can have negative psychological effects. Here are some reasons to wait until your divorce has been finalized before you go on that dating site.

Legal Implications

While Maryland is a no-fault state, if it is known that you are dating someone before the divorce is finalized, it can open up your divorce to scrutiny. The judge will want to know if you are using marital funds to buy dinners and gifts for your new lover. It is also possible that dating could affect property division as well, but likely to a minimal degree.

If you have children, dating so soon can also affect custody and visitation. The judge may feel that bringing someone new into your child’s life so quickly would be detrimental to them. Therefore, they may opt to award custody to the other parent and limit your visitation.

Psychological Implications

Dating so soon could affect you psychologically. It’s best to take your time so you can heal and get closure. When you don’t take your time, you miss out on the discovery process. Ideally, you should think about why your marriage failed and what you can do to better yourself so you can avoid the same mistakes in subsequent relationships. If you don’t, this leads to a cycle of bad relationships.

Dating during a divorce can also have implications for your children. Your kids will already be confused and angry about the divorce. Dating someone new, introducing them to your children and then having the relationship end a short time later will bring about even more confusion to your children. Younger children and teens are especially affected by this and it could make it even harder for them to get over the divorce.

Take your time and wait until after the divorce is finalized. Experts recommend waiting at least a year. Take this time to grieve and think about what you want out of life. Make sure you are over your ex-spouse before you consider dating. If you have children, focus on them

Contact a Maryland Family Law Attorney Today

Dating before you even finalize your divorce can have some serious implications. It can impact you psychologically as well as legally.

If you have concerns about what you should not do during the divorce process, the Columbia divorce lawyers at The Law Offices of Todd K. Mohink, P.A. can help. Let our team guide you in the right direction. Schedule a consultation today by calling (410) 774-5987 or filling out the online form. We have two offices to serve you.

Resource:

psychreg.org/dating-while-going-through-divorce/