Should You Join A Dating App During Your Divorce?
Once you make the decision to get a divorce, you may be thinking about your future. Hopefully, your future will include a new relationship. A divorce can take many months to finalize, and your state may also require a minimum waiting period. However, many people do not want to wait to move on. You may have considered joining a dating app to meet some new people. But is this a good idea? Here is what you need to know.
Can You Join a Dating App?
In most cases, yes. There is nothing wrong with joining a dating app while you go through a divorce. It is understandable that you are lonely and would like to meet someone to spend time with. If you live in a no-fault divorce state, you do not have to show cause for your divorce. You only have to state you are ending the divorce due to irreconcilable differences. Because neither of you is blamed for a divorce, it does not matter if you date.
However, if you are not in a no-fault divorce state, you may face some challenges if you choose to join a dating app and start seeing someone else before your marriage is officially dissolved. A judge could see your dating as an act of adultery. This could impact many parts of your divorce.
How Can Joining a Dating App Impact Your Divorce Settlement?
If you join a dating app and you live in an at-fault state, your final divorce settlement can be impacted. For example, if you want to get spousal support, joining a dating app and starting a relationship may impact the amount you receive. This will largely depend on the judge and how he or she views your relationship. If you have a judge who is harsher on those in new relationships, you may not get as much as you expect. However, it may not matter to another judge.
Your involvement with another person while still legally married can also impact your child custody arrangements. If your spouse has an issue with you joining a dating app and potentially meeting new people, he or she can argue that you should not have the children as often if you intend to date people you meet online.
You also have to think about your children if you have them. Are they old enough to understand you dating? Do they approve? While you want to move forward, be sure you are cautious and take your children's feelings into account.
You should always consult a divorce attorney before making any major decisions during a divorce.