Skip to main content

Married but dating another person during a Texas Divorce?


If you want to related guideline confidentiality Texas Child Law experience, So you can better suggestions in Married but dating another person during a Texas Divorce?

Family Lawyers in Houston: You’ve moved out, gotten your own place, and you have started to think about moving on with your life. You have started to notice other people when you go out and think it would be nice to finally spend time with, someone who appreciates being with you. While dating may sound like a good idea to you, before you do there are some problems you should consider.

While in general there is no law in Texas preventing a person from doing so, it is not a smart idea to date anyone while your divorce is pending before a court. While it may seem harmless, the effects can be long-lasting and extremely detrimental to your case. The best advice a Houston Divorce Lawyer can give you is do not do it.

Your Uncontested Divorce becomes Contested

For starters, if the other spouse finds out about the extra-marital affair it's likely that what could have been a straightforward divorce could turn into a contested matter. It is pretty simple to see why- the spouse will feel wronged, will feel hurt and will most likely do whatever he/she can to exact some pain from the cheating partner.

Whether it's pushing hard to restrict the unfaithful spouse's access to the children or simply not giving in on seemingly meaningless pieces of personal property, the effects can impact multiple areas of the parties' divorce case.

Dating during a Divorce May Affect Custody

Family Law Attorneys Houston: On a purely personal level, it's probably for the best to avoid entering into a relationship prior to being divorced as well. Children (if the spouse has any) are going to be affected by this new relationship even if the person does not think so. Children are perceptive and pick up on things like their mother or father showing more interest in another person than them. This can lead to alienation of affection.

For a divorcing spouse, the process that they are going through is stressful as it is. Adding in a new relationship during the divorce only adds to those stresses. In a time of turmoil- where the lives of their family is being turned upside down temporarily, it's my opinion that a divorcing spouse is not equipped to deal with the emotional components of a new romance.

Dating another person during the divorce can show the court that a parent is not attuned to the feelings of their children. This can have an impact on the amount of time they're able to spend with the children while the divorce is ongoing.

Having less parenting time will certainly give a person more time to spend in their new relationship but ultimately it's unlikely that this will be as fulfilling to a person as spending time with the kids.

If a divorcing spouse moves in with their new partner, it can mean trouble in the area of child and spousal support as well. A court can take this fact into account when deciding appropriate levels of support to award. Having an extra income essentially available to the spouse can cause higher than normal amounts to be ordered.

WHAT IS ADULTERY IN TEXAS?

Under Texas Family Code section 6.003 adultery is a legal term in Texas that means the voluntary sexual intercourse of a married person with one not the spouse.

Adultery can Impact How Property is Divided

Houston Family Law Lawyers: Finally, infidelity can have an impact on how property is awarded. Although, Texas is a no-fault divorce state which essentially means that neither party necessarily has to prove the other spouse did anything wrong in order to get a divorce.

Judges are human, and while they attempt to be fair, they too can be swayed by the actions of persons outside of their court. As touched on previously if your financial situation has improved because of a new partner, the court could award a higher percentage of the property available to the faithful spouse who is attempting to make it through the divorce on their own.

While engaging in a new relationship during a divorce may distract and temporarily make a person feel better, in the long run it rarely makes a situation better from my experiences. The attorneys at the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC understand that our clients are adults but when clients engage in behavior that is detrimental to their case it is the job of an attorney to point that out and attempt to improve the position of our clients. If you are considering a divorce, contact our office today for a consultation that is free of charge.

In short, the best thing to do while separated is to stay single. However, If you must start dating, do consult with your Houston divorce lawyer before beginning to see someone romantically and discuss your options ... Continue Reading

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

How to handle a cheating spouse in Texas

If you want to related guideline confidentiality Texas Child Law experience, So you can better suggestions in How to handle a cheating spouse in Texas Spring Divorce Lawyers : One of the most difficult and challenging aspects of a family lawcase is that they are, above all else, personal matters. This means that not only will you become engaged financially, relationally and logistically in a family law case but you will be emotionally invested in the case as well. While I suppose that this is true for any legal matter that you undertake, it is especially true for family law cases. These are personal matters that have become a part of the public record. An awkward and unenviable situation to be placed in. Why are family law matters so delicate? For starters, I believe that it is because so many areas of our lives are encompassed by these type of cases. For instance, if you are considering a divorce from your spouse just consider for a moment the areas of your life that are impa...

What happens if your spouse hides assets until your divorce is finalized?

If you want to related guideline confidentiality Texas Child Law experience, So you can better suggestions in What happens if your spouse hides assets until your divorce is finalized? Divorce Attorney Houston : When most people think about hiding things in the context of a divorce I think the most common thought that comes to mind is a spouse trying to cover up an affair. Whether it’s by using a separate bank account or credit card for purchases or leaving extra clothes at the office to change into and out of, people are capable of sneaky behavior. If you are the other spouse it is understandable to feel betrayed and that your ability to trust that person will be forever harmed. Another way that your spouse can violate your trust during the course of your marriage is by hiding assets. It is bad enough if your spouse were to do this prior to a divorce filing, but the situation becomes more complicated when it isn’t until after the divorce is finalized that the fraud is discovered...

The effect of divorce on children: Helping your family maintain stability

If you want to related guideline confidentiality Texas Child Law experience, So you can better suggestions in The effect of divorce on children: Helping your family maintain stability Family Lawyers Houston : If you are a parent who is going through a divorce then you will find that your case will be quite different from a divorce that does not feature two parents. Parents understand that their actions have a direct and often disproportionate effect on the lives and well being of their children. With this in mind, it’s possible that in the weeks and days leading up to your considering a divorce your biggest concern laid not with paying for an attorney or deciding what to do with the family home, but in breaking the news of the divorce to your children. Without belaboring the point too much, your children will certainly be affected by your divorce no matter how stressful or stress free the process actually is. If we take into consideration the fact that your child has probably ...