Are you thinking of moving out of your conjugal house and finding an apartment while your divorce proceedings are ongoing?
If the issue of child custody is still unresolved, you may not want to move out just yet. Moving out may give your spouse the chance to get custody of the children because they live in a home that is considered a stable environment. Conversely, ownership of the house may be given to your spouse just because of his or her being with the children.
If you want to be free from the fighting and torture that many people experience while going through a divorce but at the same time retain ownership of the house, then try to stay until the judge makes a decision. During the temporary relief hearing, you can make a plea to come back to your house or ask the court to make your spouse move out.
If you do decide to move out, find an apartment that is affordable and that will allow you to spend quiet time alone. If you have to leave the children in your house, make sure to see them as often as you can, so that the judge will allow you to keep your visitation rights. Rent an apartment that has adequate floor space so that your children are comfortable and able to play when they visit your place.
When you move out, take with you everything that you would like to keep such as clothes and jewelry. Make an inventory of everything that you take so that you would not be accused of stealing from your soon-to-be ex-spouse. If you take something with you immediately when you go, the law will see that object as rightfully yours. Remember however that you may, still, eventually be ordered to give it back. As a general rule, if you like something or if it’s yours, take it because you’re not sure what they might do to your things when you’re not around.
Nevertheless, do not be greedy; leave most of the furniture. Never clean the house out, regardless of who owned the property. Otherwise, it would make you look bad in court. Besides, you wouldn’t want to disrupt your children’s lives any further.
It is not advisable that you move into your girlfriend’s or boyfriend’s place. You have to appear independent. If you can’t afford a place on your own yet, move in with a friend or a member of your family. Try not to stay with your parents. Lawyers may dig up unwanted dirt about your family and use it against you when child custody trials take place.
Also make sure that the other person you choose to stay with has no romantic involvement whatsoever with you, so that the other party can’t make it appear that you are dating each other. Moving in with a close friend or cousin will ease the rent payment and you will not be completely alone. You will need someone to stay with and support you as the divorce proceedings take place.
After you have settled in your new place, you can now slowly begin to start a new life. Go out, meet new people and have fun. But do not do anything that could make you look bad if the incident were brought up in court. If you have no children, leave the state and come home to your family. This way, you have your family around to help you move on.
