It’s not unusual for people who are entirely done with their marriage to want to move on and find a new romance – but you may want to put the brakes on your love life until the ink on your divorce papers is dry.
As much as you might be seeking comfort and connection – both of which can be important after a disastrous union – dating before the divorce is final can open the door to complications that you could otherwise avoid.
You could give your spouse grounds
Adultery is one of the “grounds” for an at-fault divorce in Arkansas. While you may not feel like you’re doing anything wrong, extramarital relations before the formal end of your marriage are still technically adultery. That could change the dynamics of your divorce and ultimately affect the disposition of the marital property and issues of support.
You could antagonize your spouse
Whether your spouse wanted the divorce or not, the situation can go from amicable to hostile very quickly if your spouse feels like you’ve “moved on” too quickly and gets insulted – or they come to believe that the relationship started before your separation. An uncontested divorce can be over in a matter of months, while a contested divorce can take more than a year to settle. That can make it worth your while to hold off on dating for a little while.
You could affect your custody rights
Dating too quickly after your split with their other parent can create difficult feelings and dramatically affect your relationships with your children – and that can ultimately affect your custody and visitation rights. If your relationship with your children becomes antagonistic, the court may consider that when deciding on the parenting schedule.
Every situation is unique, so if you have questions about what’s acceptable in your divorce, it can help to seek tailored legal guidance.