Dating during divorce

[Lyonsmum]

I'm hoping someone will be able advise me please. I'm at the decree nisi stage of my divorce which I filed for in September 2015 on the grounds of unreasonable behaviour. It is uncontested. We have been separated for 2 years in January. I cannot yet apply for the absolute as the financial settlement is still being negotiated.

I have been in a new relationship now for 4 months and for the first time in a number of years I am truly happy but I have been informed by a well meaning relative that I shouldn't be doing this as it will greatly affect the settlement. Is this the case?

Good Lord no. Fill your boots!

If you move in together there might be some impact, but the judge won't care about dating.

Enjoy.

It will only matter in financial terms if you cohabit. Enjoy your new life x

Don't move in until the settlement and divorce are through but otherwise enjoy your happiness!!!!

Thank you so much for your responses. I googled and there are some tales of judges not awarding very well due to potential cohabitation issues etc.

I agree with the others. Go ahead. Judges that award less because a spouse is in a non-cohabiting relationship are simply wrong. I've never seen it happen.

Well, there's always Mostyn.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/11113918/Dont-date-before-divorce-judge-tells-women.html

God help us if he makes President.

That's what I read! Excuse my uneducated self but is that not to be believed then?

Well I shouldn't think you'll end up in front of Mostyn, he's strictly multi-millionnaires only.

Seriously, if you are in a long running non cohabiting relationship, a judge could conceivably find that you would cohabit as soon as proceedings were done, and therefore consider your needs are less. If the division is based on your entitlement, it should make no odds. The case in that link was pretty unusual facts, to be fair to the judge.

Just keep it fun, don't move in together, and get on with the divorce. Don't even talk about shacking up with him. Don't be in a hurry to take on new ties.

Do you think your ex husband hasn't been out with anyone?

It's a lovely relationship and I'm enjoying it, I'm in no hurry for anything more than that.

I'm sure my ex has dated, I'm worried now that he could dig his heels in and make life difficult for me though as this seems 'longer term' I guess.