Talking about legal consequences and answering the question of, can you date while separated, Regardless of whether your separation will ultimately lead to a divorce or not, dating during separation and before a divorce can have its own set of risks. In the absence of a legal separation, you are still legally married to your spouse, and dating while married can pose a few risks. What are these risks? Find out below the things you need to know about dating while separated.
# Your spouse can sue you for alienation of affection Yes, your spouse can sue you for breaking up a marriage on account of alienation of affection. In some countries, this is a crime. Alienation of affection is the act of interference in a relationship between a husband and wife. It is done by a third party without an excuse. This is a civil tort claim, usually filed against third-party lovers, brought by a spouse who’s been alienated due to the actions of a third party.
# You need to be financially stable
During a legal separation or divorce proceeding, you may find that you’re hemorrhaging money at a much faster rate than you can compensate for. This can cause a lot of stress, as you spend a great deal of your time thinking about bank accounts, tax returns, and your monthly income and bills. Do you have the headspace for dating in the middle of all this? And can your decision to date affect the outcome of your divorce and leave you in deeper financial distress?
# Don’t hide anything from your new partner Divorcing couples should never hide anything from their new partners. Divorce is already exhausting. Having a romantic partner who doesn’t know anything about your divorce can complicate matters even more. Don’t lie to yourself, your spouse, and your new partner, especially if you are living at your new partner’s place.
# Rethink physical intimacy with your former spouseThere are potential sexual complications that need to be pondered over before moving forward with dating someone during your separation. You need to factor in whether or not you’re still going to be having sex with your spouse. Some people still meet up occasionally during these separations. Even if you don’t see each other at all, you might still have plans of attempting to get back together, depending on how things go. Knowing this, it might not be smart to start sleeping with other people.
# Things to know about dating while separated — You need to heal emotionally
It would be best if you also think about whether you’re emotionally stable enough to be dating anyone at this point. Being separated from your spouse or partner is likely going to put you in a strange emotional state. You might feel very anxious or nervous about what is going on. Some people even feel numb during situations like this. Either way, you’re likely not going to feel your best when you’re going through a complicated separation.