Dating During Divorce: Is it Wise?

One of the most common desires for people going through a divorce is to begin dating someone else, or to “rebound” so to speak. While this desire is understandable, in many cases, it is unwise to enter into a new relationship before your divorce has been finalized. If you are contemplating seeing someone else during the process of divorce, or if you are already seeing someone new, the following reasons detail why you may want to put things on hold.

1. Possible infidelity: Even if you and your spouse have separated and are no longer living together, dating another person could potentially be seen as infidelity and cause your spouse to gain the upper hand in divorce negotiations. Depending on the circumstances, adultery could impact the outcome of you property settlement, spousal support arrangement, and even child custody.
2. It can exacerbate tensions: Divorce is already an emotionally taxing experience. Seeing someone else is like rubbing salt into your spouse’s wound, causing tempers to flare and further complicating your separation.
3. It can hurt your children: If you and your spouse share children, it is important to remember that it is in your best interests to maintain an amicable relationship the other parent as you will likely have to continue to maintain contact with them in the future. Dating someone else can not only poison this spirit of cooperation and cause further emotional distress for your children, but it could also cause them to side with the other parent and impact custody.
4. It can expose your new dating partner to scrutiny: Possibly the quickest way to ruin a new relationship is to thrust your new significant other into the middle of your divorce. If your relationship becomes known, the courts will not only scrutinize the conduct of you and your spouse, but also whoever you are dating. If your new dating partner has a history of criminal activity or an adulterous past, it could reflect poorly on you.

If you are involved in a new relationship or are considering pursuing one during your divorce, it is imperative you consult with a knowledgeable Rhode Island divorce attorney from TJC ESQ. Having served clients throughout Providence and its surrounding areas for more than 30 years, our skilled legal professionals can provide the guidance you need during this difficult time.