Can You Date While Going Through a Divorce in Wisconsin?

 Posted on September 11, 2023 in Divorce

For some people who are going through a divorce, the thought of dating and new relationships is the last thing they want to think about. For others, especially when the breakdown of the marriage has been a long time in coming, the thought of meeting new people and dating is exciting. But many people wonder if you should date while your divorce is still pending. A Wisconsin divorce lawyer can help guide you through this and other questions you may have about the divorce process.

The Difficulties Dating May Cause in a Divorce

There are several issues that dating can cause in a divorce, especially one that is already contentious. This is especially true if you have children and there are custody issues that need to be addressed. You can be assured that your spouse’s legal team – and likely your spouse’s friends and family – will be scrutinizing everything you do. This is why you should avoid posting anything on your social media accounts that can be used against you.

However, many people do not realize that dating apps also fall into that category. If you are on a dating app, anything you post on that profile could also be introduced to the court to try to show that you are not looking out for your child’s best interest by bringing strangers into your child’s life. Even if this is not true, the information could still be twisted in such a way that the court may believe it.

Even if your children are grown, or you do not have children, dating can still be a possible problem, triggering feelings of anger, jealousy, and rejection in your spouse. They may be so angry that they drag out the divorce, refusing to negotiate a fair marital estate division, resulting in a long and expensive divorce process.

If you do decide to date, it is important to do so discreetly. Again, avoid sharing photos and posts on social media, especially if your dates with someone begin to grow into a relationship. It is better not to bring this person around your children until your divorce is final. If your soon-to-be-ex-spouse does find out about your new romantic interest and has a bad reaction to it, they can request the court issue an order prohibiting this person from being around your children during overnights.

Contact a Rock County Divorce Lawyer for Legal Help

If you are going through a divorce, it is important to have a skilled Madison, WI divorce attorney advocating for you and guiding you through these legal issues. Call John T. Fields & Associates, LLC at 608-729-3590 to schedule a confidential consultation and find out how our law firm can protect your parenting rights and financial future.