Disclaimer: This blog does not constitute legal advice. If you have any questions about your individual situation, it’s best to seek the advice of an experienced legal professional.
When you’re getting a divorce, you or your spouse may not have the ability to immediately move out of your home. You may need to wait for a new home or apartment to open up. You or your spouse may also need a little more time to put together the finances required to move out of your current home. Knowing how the need to live together can affect your divorce will help you and your spouse make the best decisions about your current and future living arrangements. The team from Divorce Options San Diego—the experts couples turn to for San Diego divorce mediation conducted with integrity and compassion—offer the following advice about living together while you’re getting divorced.
California Laws Affecting Your Living Situation
The state of California doesn’t legally require you to live separately while you get your divorce. However, in your paperwork, you’ll need to state a formal date of separation that impacts things such as the division of your assets and debts. Some people list the date when they filed the divorce petition as the formal date of separation. Others use a different date, such as the day they started living together separately. If you continue to live together, this can be challenging. Your mediator can help you choose an appropriate date both of you find suitable.
Understanding the Six-Month Waiting Period
Some people get confused by the six-month waiting period California requires before the court will approve a divorce. While you must wait six months for the divorce to be finalized, it has nothing to do with your living situation. The six-month waiting period is designed to give you the opportunity to make sure you want the divorce and have enough time to work out a proper divorce agreement.
Discussing Your Future Living Arrangements
Living together might be what you need to do right now. However, this arrangement is likely not one that can last forever. During this time, you need to talk about how you’ll handle the transition. For instance, you need to decide who will move out of your home, and you may need to create a tentative timeline to make sure this happens. If you have children, you may also need to have a family discussion about why you’re living together through the divorce process so they can be ready for the day when one of you moves out.
Keeping Things Civil While You Live Together
You may find things can get tense if you must live with your spouse for any length of time after the decision is made to get a divorce. For the time being, you may need to take steps to maintain a certain level of respect in your relationship. For instance, you might need to hold off on dating until your divorce is final and you’re no longer living together.
Your divorce mediator can suggest specific ways to maintain harmony within your household during the divorce process. If you’re looking for an alternative to the contentious, attorney-centered manner in which divorces are usually handled, call on the trustworthy professionals at Divorce Options San Diego. We’re experienced San Diego divorce mediators who can help you dissolve your marriage in a fair way that’s based on mutual respect, leaving both parties satisfied and ready to move on with their lives. Give us a call today at 858-281-2628 to learn more.
