Most people are cautious about starting a new romantic relationship before their divorce is final. There are a host of reasons why it’s generally not a good idea to jump into a new relationship when you’re still processing everything that happened in the previous one.
Certainly, if you have children, that’s an important consideration. Most parents don’t introduce their children to people they’re dating – particularly when they’ve only recently separated or divorced — until they know the relationship is serious.
Beyond these emotional risks, there are potential risks that can affect your ability to secure the divorce agreements you’re seeking. Let’s look briefly at just a few.
Child custody
If your co-parent finds out that you’re involved with someone, they can potentially try to attack your fitness as a parent. Even if you only spend time with them while your child is with your co-parent, they can try to argue that your child isn’t your top priority.
If your co-parent is able to dig up any dirt (like a DUI, domestic violence allegation or even questionable business dealings) on the person you’re seeing, they could take steps to keep your child away from them. This could disrupt your life once you’re ready for them to meet.
Wasteful dissipation of marital assets
If you’re spending a considerable amount on weekend getaways, gifts or even dinners with someone using joint credit cards or money from joint accounts, your soon-to-be ex could accuse you of “wasteful dissipation” of your marital assets. Since Wisconsin is a community property state, even an account where you have sole ownership that was opened during the marriage could be considered marital property. Just be careful before making any large expenditures for any reason.
Alimony
If you move in with a romantic partner (or vice versa), that can be grounds for ending alimony payments. While that likely wouldn’t happen until later, it’s something to consider if you and your boyfriend or girlfriend start spending a lot of time under one roof.
Even if you find it impossible to believe that your spouse would be vindictive, amicable divorces can suddenly turn ugly. That’s particularly true if one spouse seems to be moving on a lot faster than the other.
While a new relationship can develop when you least expect it – and can help you get through all the negativity that can come with divorce – it’s crucial to be smart. Having experienced legal guidance can help you avoid unnecessary and costly mistakes.