Although there is no legal reason preventing you from dating before your divorce is final, it could cause potential snags in your divorce hearings. If you are legally separated but dating someone and have a physical relationship while still married, that will complicate your case by drawing scrutiny. Here are some things to consider before dating while going through a divorce.

State Laws

Law Office of Cosmas Onyia – divorce attorney says that it’s a good idea to first check on the laws in your state. Arizona is a no-fault divorce state, which means that the spouse filing for divorce doesn’t have to prove any wrongdoing by either party. However, there is a mandatory 60-day waiting period before your divorce can be finalized, and dating in that time period can cause complications.

Increases Tension

Going through a divorce can make a person feel lonely. You may long to feel desired by someone. However, jumping into a relationship may cause the soon-to-be-ex to assume that the relationship began before your separation and that you had an affair. Bringing a new partner around your children can enrage the soon-to-be ex-spouse to the point of starting a new legal war in an attempt to seek revenge. In some cases, the attorney for your ex can depose your new partner and ask them questions under oath about when the relationship began, whether any property has been transferred over to them (even as a “gift”), if the relationship is sexual in nature, how much money is spent on dates and if you have said or done anything that opposing counsel can use in court.

Therapy and Counseling

An alternative to dating is to focus on yourself, which has a stronger likelihood of you getting through your divorce healthily. Even amicable divorces can be extremely emotional, especially when children are involved. You are taking the next step into your future that is different from the one you had planned for, so there is understandable apprehension and stress that goes along with it. 

Strong emotions can cause people to say or do things that can hurt their case, but working through those feelings with a therapist will help you go through the divorce with grace and self-control. Therapy with a licensed professional specializing in helping clients through a divorce can be beneficial as you navigate this new part of your life. It is especially helpful if the divorce is not amicable and you are heartbroken, angry, and feeling lost. 

Divorce Support Groups

Another alternative to dating is to join groups with other people who are going through a divorce. There are many free groups that meet either weekly or monthly, and some are specific to men or women, parents or divorcees over 40. Groups are a good way to meet others who are navigating the same challenges as you or who have gone through them and want to mentor others. You can get advice on coparenting, for example, or what to do if you and your former spouse owned a business together. 

Having a community supporting you during your hardest days means you’re less likely to say or do anything impulsive whenever you’re feeling strong emotions. Impulsivity can harm your divorce proceedings whenever you feel enraged, jealous, or have other strong feelings.