You never wanted to be unfaithful to your spouse, so you didn’t start dating anyone while the two of you were married. Even when you knew the relationship wasn’t going well, you didn’t stray from this. Eventually, your spouse decided to file for divorce.
This puts you in an interesting position. You know that the divorce can take months before it is complete, and that it could even take up to a year. It is very clear to you that the romantic side of the relationship is over. You would like to start a new relationship, so you’re interested in meeting new people and beginning to date again, just like you did before you got married.
The problem, of course, is that you are still technically married until that divorce is finalized. Can you start dating?
It can increase the level of conflict
You are certainly not prohibited from dating, because dating while you are married to someone else is not illegal. This doesn’t mean that your spouse is going to approve of it, of course, but there’s no rule saying that you can’t do it if this is what you would like.
The thing to keep in mind is that it can increase the level of conflict between the two of you. If your spouse is unhappy that it appears you are already moving on, are they going to fight for more time with the children? Are they going to disagree with you over exactly how assets should be split up? Essentially, divorce is faster and easier when two people get along and cooperate, so you may want to consider whether or not your new relationship will ruin your chances of doing so.
You may also want to think about child custody. The court is going to consider the child’s living situation. If you start dating someone else and move in with them, the court is going to take that into account when determining where the children should live and how much time you should spend with them.
Throughout this entire process, make sure you are well aware of all of your legal rights and the steps you’ll need to take.