If you’re going through an Orange County divorce and considering dating again, you probably have questions about if and how dating can affect your California divorce. Is dating during divorce considered adultery? What if you use an online dating app like Tinder, will that affect your divorce? Since Tinder is a very popular dating and “hookup” app, we’re dedicating an article to it.
What is Tinder exactly? According to Tinder’s website: “Tinder® is the world’s most popular app for meeting new people. Think of us as your most dependable wing-mate—wherever you go, we’ll be there. If you’re here to meet new people, expand your social network, meet locals when you’re traveling, or just live in the now, you’ve come to the right place. We’re called “the world’s hottest app” for a reason: we spark more than 26 million matches per day.”
Many divorcing spouses are curious about Tinder. The app is user-friendly and it makes it easy to have casual, “discreet” encounters with perfect strangers. For recently separated spouses who are lonely or anxious to meet someone new, it’s understandable why they may be drawn to Tinder or another popular dating app. So, while divorcing parties may want to create a Tinder profile, will doing so have a negative impact on their divorce proceedings?
Is Dating During Separation Adultery?
If you date during your divorce and you’re intimate with someone other than your spouse, it becomes a question of “adultery” if you’re still legally married. In this regard, California is a progressive state. While some states frown heavily upon extramarital affairs, even after a physical separation between the spouses, that’s not how the California courts view it.
In California, divorcing couples are free to date during their divorces without any consequences from the courts. Even if a couple is separated and one spouse enters into a new relationship, that does not bar them from receiving spousal support.
The only time dating becomes a concern is when a spouse is wasting marital assets on a new partner. If it can be proven that a spouse spent marital assets, for example, if a husband bought his new girlfriend a car, then it can affect property division. Otherwise, dating won’t usually impact the outcome of a California divorce.
If you plan to date before your divorce is finalized, remember, discretion is important. You wouldn’t want to say or do anything that could turn a friendly divorce into a contested one because litigated divorces can be costly. If you have further questions, feel free to contact Burch Shepard Family Law Group for a consultation.
