Some people leave a marriage and can’t imagine themselves in a relationship ever again. Others can’t wait to get out there and start dating. If you are emotionally and mentally ready to play the field, the question you need to ask yourself (and your Michigan divorce lawyer) is if it’s legally a good idea to date during your divorce.
Be Careful Navigating Social Media
If you decide to date during your divorce, it’s always a good idea to keep a low profile online. That means no promoting lovey-dovey adventures on social media or making a relationship Facebook official when your divorce isn’t even final yet. Public perception can come into play in divorce proceedings, and even though Michigan is a no-fault state, if you have any sort of child custody battles, your ex could use your dating behavior as ammunition against you.
Relationships Will Change
Even if you have a cordial relationship with your ex and your divorce is proceeding just fine, your dating choices may affect how he or she feels about you. A topic that you both may have agreed on could suddenly become a bone of contention in a passive-aggressive move that says more about your ex’s feelings about your dating life than their true feelings about the matter at hand.
Spousal Support Could Take a Hit
Some Michigan divorces take a long time, for various reasons. If years pass before your divorce is finally complete, there’s a good chance you could easily have found someone who you want a future with – and their presence in your life could affect your ex’s argument about spousal support. Having someone new to rely on may figure prominently in an argument about whether you deserve a certain amount of lifetime support from your ex.
Think About the Children
While dating is of course about you, it’s not all about you if you have children. A court may view your new relationship or dating habits – however your ex’s divorce lawyer chooses to portray them – as evidence of poor parenting, and parenting time or custody arrangements could be negatively affected.
Besides the legal logistics to think about when dating during your divorce proceedings, there is an emotional element to consider for your kids, whether they’re little kids, teenagers, or adults. New partners will affect your children, your dynamics with your children, and their perception of you. Divorce is already difficult enough – it’s important to consider how every move you make will affect your kids.
Many couples, as part of their divorce, include a clause that outlines acceptable behavior where new significant others are concerned. They may delineate a length of time that you must be dating someone before they can meet the children or spend time with the children. In more amicable divorces, exes may agree that they can only introduce a new partner to their kids once they’ve made the introductions to each other first.
Be Careful If You Date During Your Divorce
If your amicable relationship with your ex suddenly goes sour, or if your already unpleasant exchanges get worse, your dating habits could suddenly be fair game. If you must date during your divorce, be smart about it. Get answers to all your dating and Michigan divorce questions from Michigan Divorce Help. Contact us to schedule your free initial consultation.