In America, almost half of all marriages end in divorce. It’s so common that lots of people in Florida have questions about divorcing. One of the things people are most interested to know is when they can start dating. The answer, like most divorces, is somewhat complicated.
Dating can impact your divorce
It’s generally advised that you don’t date during your divorce. The reasons, in this day and age, are largely practical and not moral. One of the biggest issues in any divorce is the division of assets.
If people are involved in a relationship before their marriage has been dissolved, that can complicate the financial picture. Spending money on an outside relationship during the marriage can be considered dissipation of assets. Vengeful exes are sometimes willing to spend lots of time and money proving dissipation occurred.
While judges usually don’t care what happens between consenting adults, adultery is still a law on the books in Florida. It’s a misdemeanor and people are almost never charged with this. But the charge of adultery is a possibility that you should still be aware of.
Finally, judges will worry about the impact of dating relationships on children. Divorces are hard enough on adults, but children can really struggle with changes to their family and routine. Sometimes, when there is a dating relationship, the judge will place restrictions on when the new partner can be introduced to any children.
At the end of the day, it’s really best in most cases if you don’t date before your divorce is finalized. It can potentially affect the outcome of the case in unpleasant ways. Consulting with a lawyer can help to clear up any specific questions you have about your case.