Living Together After Divorce

After a divorce, the rule is that the couple lives apart — or so it seems. However, a large number of divorced couples actually continue to live together in the marital home. What’s the point of getting divorced if you’re still going to live together?

This may seem weird, but there are some valid and practical reasons for doing so. Here’s a look at the common reasons and any legal implications to keep in mind.

Reasons for Living Together After Divorce

Why would a couple divorce and continue to live together? Here are some common reasons:

• Financial security. Many couples stay in the same house for economical reasons. Two houses require more money than one, and this can make it difficult for both parties to live comfortably. For them, living together may make the most sense.
• Co-parenting. Some couples may continue to live together after divorce to raise children together. This can help maintain a stable living situation.
• Unresolved feelings. One or both parties may still care about each other to the point that they are not ready to let go.
• Societal reasons. Some couples stay together after getting divorced to avoid societal pressure. In some religions and cultures, divorce is considered a stigma, so a couple may still live together to avoid embarrassment.

Legal Issues

The law is not 100% clear on this, but alimony and child support are a couple things that could be affected if you and your ex continue to live together. The support obligations would likely be altered to reflect the fact that the recipient and payer are living together and reducing their collective expenses. However, this would require one of the spouses to petition the court to modify the support obligations.

What to Consider

Living together after divorce has some benefits. It is cost-efficient and can help both parties create a better lifestyle for themselves for a temporary period.

However, there are some downsides. It can make the parties too dependent on each other, which can make it harder for them to move and live independently. There is also limited privacy and feelings of resentment can crop up with exes living together.

It can also be hard to set boundaries. Who does the chores? There will need to be equal divisions in order to make things work without too much disagreement.

Also, most people divorce because they are having a difficult time living with their spouse. Continuing to live together after a divorce can cause a lot of stress and anxiety, making matters worse. It’s ideal to have space between you and your ex after a divorce.

Seek Legal Help

Divorce does not always mean living apart. Many couples still live together in the same house, primarily due to financial reasons.

If you are considering divorce, make sure you understand your options so you get the outcome you desire. Seek legal help from Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyer Edward J. Jennings, P.A. schedule a consultation today by calling 954-764-4330 or filling out the online form.

Source:

marriage.com/advice/divorce/living-together-after-divorce-what-does-the-law-say/