The decision to end a romantic relationship and go your separate ways is, without a doubt, a difficult one. The stakes become much higher when children are involved. Among the concerns you might have during or after the divorce is whether giving love another try will impact your custody case.
Generally, no law prohibits you from seeing someone after the divorce. If you have children, however, you might want to be careful how you handle your love life. Here are two questions you need to ask if you are thinking about dating after your divorce:
How will this impact your ability to care for your child?
Child custody decisions are made in the best interests of the child. If your ex can show that you are barely getting time for the child thanks to your new partner, then you will likely have a difficult custody case. For instance, if dating life is keeping you from attending your child’s important events like birthdays or school functions, then you will have a difficult time convincing the court that you have your child’s best interest at heart. The same applies if your new relationship is making you unable to provide for the child.
Is your new partner a threat to the child?
If your new partner has any criminal history or history with domestic violence, your ex could argue that your new partner is a threat to the child’s physical and emotional well-being.
Likewise, if your new relationship is leading you and your current lover to say negative things about your ex, especially in the presence of the child, then you risk losing your custody battle since this amounts to parental alienation.
Child custody can be a difficult subject, especially if you are not on the same page with your ex. Find out how proper legal guidance can help you avoid dating mistakes that can jeopardize your child custody case.
