Addresses Dating During Your Divorce in Texas

n Texas, Can You Date Someone New While Waiting For Your Houston Divorce To Be Finalized?

Going through a divorce is a time of major upheaval. Depending on your situation, you may have already moved into a new place. You also are most likely trying to wrap your head around the idea of starting a new life on your own. During this time of transition, it is only natural to begin thinking about the future. This includes considering whether or not to start dating other people. Before you start searching for dates, however, there are some things that you should consider.

Although there is nothing legal standing in your way when it comes to dating someone else when going through a divorce in Texas, it is generally a bad idea to do so. Even though it may seem like it isn’t a big deal, it actually can have a significant impact on the outcome of your case. Any good Houston TX divorce attorney would advise you not to do it since it can cause a lot of problems in your divorce.

Dating Might Change The Status Of Your Divorce in Houston From Uncontested To Contested

One of the most common things that happen when people start dating during a divorce is that their spouse inevitably finds out about it. When they do, they may react with anger, suddenly deciding to contest a divorce that was previously uncontested. It makes sense when you think about it. After all, the spouse most likely feels hurt and betrayed, just like they would if their spouse had cheated on them prior to filing for a divorce.

When someone feels wronged, they naturally react with anger. In the case of the divorce, that may mean that they start contesting everything from your child custody arrangement to the division of property.

Dating Before Your Houston Divorce Is Finalized Can Negatively Impact Children

If you have children, it is especially important to wait until after your divorce is finalized to start dating. A divorce not only disrupts your life – it also disrupts the lives of your children. In fact, it can be extremely traumatic for them. Introducing another person to the mix when they are already dealing with so many changes in their lives can leave them feeling hurt and resentful.

From a personal perspective, as well, starting a new relationship in the midst of a divorce can be extremely challenging. Dealing with the emotions of the divorce along with the challenges of a new relationship can leave you feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. It is usually best to allow yourself to get back on your feet again before you consider entering into a relationship with someone else.

From the perspective of the court, if a parent starts dating before their divorce is finalized, it shows that they are more interested in their personal feelings than in the feelings of their children. In some cases, this can negatively impact child custody decisions.

Although it may seem like you are going to have a lot of free time after your divorce since you most likely won’t have your children all of the time, it still can be difficult to split your time between your children and a new relationship. It is usually best to focus on your kids until you get your new routine worked out.

Moving in with someone else can also affect the amount of spousal support that is required. When deciding how much support to award, courts take into account all of the income of a particular household. If the spouse and their new partner are living together, this can cause the amount of spousal support and child support to be higher than if only the spouse’s income was being taken into account.

The Legal Definition of Adultery In Texas

When someone voluntarily has sexual intercourse with someone besides their spouse while they are still married, it is considered adultery under section 6.003 of the Texas Family Code.

Adultery Can Affect The Division Of Property

Having an affair while you are still married can affect how your property is divided. At first, it may seem like it wouldn’t have an impact since the state of Texas is a no-fault divorce state. In essence, that means that there is no need to prove that one of the spouses did something wrong to be awarded a divorce.

At the same time, however, judges can take into account the situation of each spouse when deciding how to divide property. For instance, if you have moved in with someone else and your financial circumstances have improved as a result, a larger amount of the property could be awarded to the spouse who remained faithful throughout the divorce.

As tempting as it might be to start a new relationship when you are in the midst of a divorce, it is usually a bad idea. Even though it may temporarily make you feel better, it almost always causes more problems than it is worth. 

Source: https://www.johnkgrubb.com/dating-during-a-divorce-in-houston