Can I Date Other People Before My Divorce is Officially Completed?

 Posted on January 25, 2022 in Divorce

A divorce ends one chapter in life but offers the opportunity for a new chapter as well. If you are getting divorced, you may feel a mix of emotions. On one hand, you may be grieving the end of your marriage, but on the other hand, you may be excited about the prospect of dating again.

Many people going through a divorce wonder if it is okay to date other people while they are still technically married. While adults have the right to date whoever they want, dating during divorce can have unintended consequences.

What If I Meet Someone While I Am Still Technically Married?

In many cases, spouses lead separate lives long before they are officially separated or divorced. If you are like many people seeking divorce, you may have felt like your marriage ended months or even years ago. Consequently, you may be ready to start looking for a new romantic partner.

Whether or not you choose to date before the marriage is officially dissolved is your decision, however, is it important to know the ways dating during divorce may impact your divorce case.

• Dissipation of assets – Illinois courts do not consider marital misconduct like adultery when dividing marital assets in a divorce. However, if you spend, use, sell, or destroy marital property for a purpose not related to the marriage and not benefiting the other spouse, this may be considered “dissipation of assets.” Spending money on a new boyfriend of girlfriend may cause your spouse to file a dissipation of assets claim against you. If your spouse is successful, you may be required to reimburse the marital estate for the dissipated funds.
• Heightened conflict – Sometimes, dating during divorce can escalate the conflict and contention between divorcing spouses. If your spouse finds out that you are dating other people, he or she may seek revenge by drawing out the divorce process or refusing to settle.
• Spousal maintenance – Alimony or spousal maintenance is sometimes awarded when a divorcing spouse needs financial support during or after the marriage. However, cohabitating with a new romantic partner or getting remarried terminates spousal maintenance. Make sure to keep this fact in mind. 
• Child custody implications – Having a new romantic relationship does not automatically impact child custody. However, if the new partner has been convicted of child abuse or other violent offenses or poses some type of threat to the child, this can certainly impact the court’s decisions regarding parental responsibilities and parenting time.

Contact a Cook County Divorce Lawyer

Dating before the marriage is officially over may complicate your divorce case. To learn more, contact the experienced Chicago divorce lawyers at the Law Office of George J. Skuros. Call 312-884-1222 for a free consultation.

Source:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?ActID=2086&ChapterID=59&SeqStart=8300000&SeqEnd=10000000