If you’re going through a divorce, it’s likely that the romance in your marriage has long been extinguished. In many instances, getting back out into the dating world can be a great way to close one painful chapter of your life and open an exciting new one. While it’s understandable that you may want to start that process as soon as possible, it’s also important to think about how dating will impact your pending divorce.
In most cases, dating someone new before your divorce is finalized won’t negatively impact the court’s judgment. However, it is possible that your newly invigorated love life may create some problems if you’re not very careful about how you go about entering the dating scene.
In some instances, dating during your divorce may increase animosity between you and your estranged spouse. If you are already going through a nasty, acrimonious divorce, then this probably won’t impact your case. But if your divorce process lacks the contentiousness that marks many of these cases, you may want to think twice before you erode some of the good will experienced between you and your ex throughout this process. It may cause your ex to dispute certain issues simply out of spite, and ultimately that may turn a relatively amicable divorce into a hotly contested one.
A new significant other may also potentially impact a pending child custody matter in the following ways:
- It may create tension with your children and impact their preference regarding who they want to live with. In some instances, particularly when dependent children are a little older, the court may weigh the child’s preferences when ruling on custody matters.
- It may create the appearance that you are prioritizing your needs and interests over the emotional needs of your children. Regardless of whether this is true, if a judge gets this impression, it can impact a potential custody or visitation ruling.
Ultimately, you must weigh all the pros and cons of entering into a new relationship prior to finalizing your divorce. Many people choose to start dating while their divorce is pending, and it’s possible that it will not impact your case at all. But there are certain risks associated with dating right away and if you choose to go this route, you should do so in a very respectful and discrete manner.
If you need assistance with a divorce matter, please contact Leslie Martin, Attorney at Law or call (516) 222-0900 today to schedule a consultation. Mr. Martin serves clients in Nassau, Suffolk, and Queens Counties, and throughout all of New York City.