Can I Date Other People Before My Divorce Is Finalized In PA?

When your marriage has ended and you are waiting for your divorce to be finalized, you may be wondering whether you are able to date someone new while waiting to be officially divorced from your soon-to-be ex.

As you can imagine, dating while still married can bring up some complications as your divorce is processed through the court system, so you should speak with your attorney about the individual details of your case before you continue a romantic relationship or begin a new one. Below, we discuss what fault-based divorce is and why dating other people may have an impact on your divorce settlement.

Fault-Based Divorce

When seeking a divorce in Pennsylvania, the grounds for your divorce must be either fault-based or no-fault based. In a no-fault divorce, neither party is blaming the other for the demise of the marriage; it has simply irretrievably broken down.

The majority of individuals seeking a divorce pursue this type of divorce, as it will often be far less complicated and allow your divorce to be finalized much more quickly than a fault divorce.

Fault divorces occur when one spouse has wronged the other in some way, thus causing the marriage to fail. Adultery is one of the most common types of fault divorces, and if you committed adultery, or have begun to date other people before your divorce is finalized, your divorce settlement could be dramatically impacted.

How Dating Could Influence Your Case

Whether you cheated on your spouse and began a relationship with this individual or have only just started dating again, it may be well-advised to wait to continue with your new relationships, as this new romance could be used against you in your divorce, particularly if you are in the middle of a fault-based divorce.

Although the grounds for divorce will not have an impact on your alimony negotiations, except in cases of spousal abuse, it can have a devastating influence on the division of your marital property, debts, and assets.

If you have been using marital funds to wine and dine your new partner, or if marital finances are used in any way to encourage your new relationship, the judge may look poorly on your divorce case.

You are not legally required to remain single while your divorce is being finalized, but doing so can only help your divorce be settled as soon as possible so you can then venture out and date whoever you wish. Your attorney will be able to give you individualized advice about how to proceed after learning more about the details of your impending divorce.

Contact a PA Divorce Lawyer

To learn more about dating while waiting for your divorce to be finalized, or if your spouse has committed adultery and you are interested in pursuing a fault-based divorce on the grounds of adultery, reach out to an experienced PA divorce lawyer at Taybron Law Firm, LLC, P.C.

You can schedule your initial case review by calling our firm at (412) 231-9786 or filling out the brief contact form provided below.