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Recently, Real Housewives of Miami’s Lenny Hochstein confirmed to Page Six, a digital celebrity news outlet, that he and his wife Lisa are divorcing after 12 years of marriage. According to the Miami Herald, the couple, who have a 6-year-old son and 2-year-old daughter, have yet to file for divorce. However, that has not stopped Lenny from moving on from his wife.
Reportedly, Lenny is dating Katharina Mazepa, a 26-year-old Austrian model. Lenny claims that he didn’t begin dating Katharina until after he and Lisa decided to get divorced. Lisa, however, claims she has been blindsided by both Lenny’s behavior and his handling of the situation.
At the time of this report, Lisa and Lenny had not updated their social media pages with any information about their split.
Are You Allowed to Date Before Your Divorce Is Final in Florida?
In Florida, there is no law prohibiting a person from dating people other than their spouse while their divorce is pending. However, just because it is not illegal to date before your divorce is finalized in Florida, that does not mean that dating while your divorce is pending cannot have a negative legal impact on your divorce. For that reason, you should think twice before you decide to date while your divorce is ongoing.
Should I Date Before My Divorce Is Final?
While dating before your divorce is finalized is allowed, in some situations, it is not a good idea. Here are a few reasons why you should think carefully before dating while your divorce is ongoing:
- Dating again after marriage is a big step. You may not be ready emotionally to date again so soon after the end of your marriage. If you don’t give yourself time to heal and mourn the end of your marriage, it could lead to you enduring more pain and heartache.
- Dating before your divorce is final can hurt your child custody arrangement. Courts consider what is best for children when making child custody decisions. This can include who you are dating and whether that person should be around your children. If the court decides that the person that you’re dating could be a danger to your kids, or a poor influence on them, you could be denied custody or visitation rights.
- Dating while your divorce is pending can negatively affect spousal support and division of property decisions. If you use any marital assets, such as money from a joint checking account, for the purpose of dating someone other than your spouse while your divorce is pending, the court can decide to deduct what you spent on dating from the marital property you are awarded. In addition, if you live with someone you are dating while your divorce is ongoing, it can negatively affect alimony and child support awards.
Discuss Your Situation with Our Experienced Divorce Attorneys Today
During a divorce, things you would normally think nothing of doing can become sources of controversy. While legally you and your spouse are still married, your marriage may have been over long before you began the divorce process. Still, if issues like alimony, child custody, property division, and child support haven’t been decided yet, you should tread carefully if you’re thinking about reentering the dating pool before your divorce is finalized. That is because who you date and when you started dating them can sometimes negatively impact your divorce.
At Orshan, Spann & Fernandez-Mesa, our experienced family law attorneys have an in-depth understanding of the divorce process in Florida. We have been successfully representing clients in divorce proceedings for years. We know what it takes to get you past any legal pitfalls you may encounter as you seek to end your marriage, and we can help you finalize your divorce quickly and secure the outcome you need and deserve. Protecting our clients and their rights is always our top priority.
To learn more about Orshan, Spann & Fernandez-Mesa, and what it’s like to have our divorce lawyers represent you, check out our clients’ reviews.
Call us at (305) 853-9161 or contact us online today to schedule a confidential, no-obligation consultation with our experienced divorce lawyers.
