Couples undergoing a divorce may find the process quite overwhelming. Especially, if it’s your first time and you are fighting over child custody or the spousal support or cohabitation and other such arrangements. You need a skilled divorce attorney to guide you throughout the process. Given the fragility of these situations, you may not be strong enough to handle all the issues involved in the process since the situation itself is emotionally taxing. So hiring an attorney is perhaps the foremost thing you should do.
Cohabitation is one such issue that needs to be addressed, as a lot of couples have several doubts when it comes to cohabiting. We shall thus acknowledge a few questions relating to cohabitation.
- Can cohabitation limit your right to alimony?
The purpose of alimony is to ensure that the dependent spouse gets to maintain the quality of life after the divorce. Depending on where the divorced couple lives, the housing costs and other expenses may be too difficult to keep up with. If an alimony recipient remains in a single living situation, or in other words, does not get involved with any other person, the alimony payments are most likely to continue, uninterrupted according to the divorce agreement. But if the spouse starts living with someone after the divorce, the alimony may be interrupted or reduced in some states, unless proven otherwise.
- Will cohabitation before divorce affect the arrangements for children?
Parents getting divorced can be a traumatic experience for children. If the couple getting divorced is having children, the suitability of the new partner having direct involvement in the lives of children can become a crucial issue. However, regardless of the personal changes in the lives of the parents, the courts find:
- The well being of the children a top priority and
- The involvement of both parents in the children’s life crucial.
- How does cohabitation affect divorce settlements?
Although cohabitation after divorce may not bring significant changes in the divorce settlements and maintenance, there are certain aspects that may be affected as cohabiting does influence the settlements to some extent. That is why consulting experienced and professional Andrew Heft divorce attorney can work in your best interest.
Divorce comes with a lot of stress. And even if you do get past all the emotional stress somehow, the legalities involved in a divorce will haunt you. Therefore, hiring a divorce lawyer is important.
