When you know your marriage is over, you might just want to move on and get on with your life. Divorces take time, and you might be wondering if dating before your divorce is final is a wise decision.
Most experts agree that it is definitely not a good idea. Here is why.
It can be damaging to your case
There are several ways dating during your divorce can hurt your case. If you want to settle your divorce amicably, seeing other people can cause hard feelings between you and your soon-to-be-ex, which can change an amicable divorce into a hostile one.
It can hurt your settlement or spousal support options. Although it might not be fair, some ex-spouses will look down on you for dating someone and deny you marital property or spousal support.
You may not be emotionally ready
You are dissolving your marriage. This alone can put you on an emotional rollercoaster. Dating someone can cause that rollercoaster to spin out of control, particularly if they’ve never gone through a divorce before.
Before you consider dating, make sure that you are emotionally ready to start seeing someone new. If you aren’t, both relationships can end in disaster.
Your children may be affected
Divorce is very difficult for children. They often have feelings of guilt and shame when their parents are separating. Dating someone new can introduce more fear and insecurity. It can also cause child support and custody problems if you are not very careful.
Dating before your divorce is final is not a wise idea for anyone involved. You risk hurting yourself, your children and your new relationship. It is better to wait until after your divorce is finalized.