The termination of marriage implies a lot of issues that a couple needs to solve: the division of all the material things they have, the way they will take care of kids, split their money, and even where they will live once they are divorced. In this post, we will take a look at the pros and cons of leaving the house you used to live in when you were a family. Also, we will answer the question of who has to leave the house in a divorce.
Pros of moving out in a divorce
Couples have different attitudes towards leaving their houses. The most common reasons why you need to consider moving out are below.
The possibility to live in the house of your dreams
Once you decide to move out during divorce, you get plenty of options where to live next: an apartment, a condo, a mansion, etc. Your only limit is your imagination, wishes, and, of course, your budget. Anyway, you can choose a perfect place for yourself in terms of commuting to work, gym, or your kids’ school, etc.
A great moment to explore another city or state
If you have considered relocating to a nearby or a distant city, it’s time to realize it. Now that you are almost single and ready for new adventures, moving out of town can turn your life upside down in a positive way: you can start working in a new company (or in another office of your current workplace), meet new people, keep doing activities you are used to in a new place (e.g. working out in a new gym, dancing in a new studio, riding a bike in a new park), etc.
A chance to change the view out of your window and your social circle
Even if you move out to live in the same city, you have a lot of opportunities to expand your social circle and meet new friends. Starting small talk with new neighbors can turn into a good friendship for years, so why would you deny such pleasure?
An opportunity to live closer to your friends or your parents
If you lived through an abusive relationship where your partner did not allow you to communicate with your family or friends, having a chance to live closer to them now can be a rescue to your mental health. Otherwise, if you were not an abuser’s prey, living near your loved ones can have the same therapeutic effect on you. The support of parents or good friends helps to get through any divorce, amicable or contested.
Cons of moving out in a divorce
Now let’s see why people choose to stay at home with their partner during a marriage dissolution.
Extra expenditures
The first and most popular reason to not move out in the process of a divorce is in the absence of money to pay for rent. This reason is also one of the most common for women: their level of income is often not enough to afford to live separately from their husbands during and after a divorce. This is especially true for those who have small kids and are on maternity leave.
Stress caused by packing all your life into boxes (and then unpacking)
In case you have no problem with money, you may not want to move out of your home due to the need to organize the process of packing your things, ordering a transfer bus, loading all of the boxes and bags there, and then spending days unpacking all the stuff you have. Although these difficulties are temporary, many people prefer to avoid them and stay at home.
Potential difficulties in meeting your kids
Living far away from your kids means you’ll have to commute to them longer which may not be possible during the week. Therefore, couples with kids often choose to file for a legal separation in Georgia and continue to live in the same place to provide their kids with the care they are used to.
The need to divide your real estate anyway
Despite the fact you continue to live in your couple’s house, you will have to divide your property and real estate during a divorce. Consequently, exes decide to live together but have equal parts in their property as a result of marriage dissolution.
Husband or wife: who has to leave the house?
That is the question that every couple needs to answer on their own. The solution will depend on the level of income each partner has, the custody of kids, the desire to move out, and many other factors. Neither partner should be pressured to live home after a divorce.
If we turn to a traditional solution to moving out after the divorce, husbands do that more often than wives. This is because the former prefer to be visiting parents while women become sole custodians for their kids.
I’m about to divorce. Should I move out?
Now that you know the pros and cons of moving out due to a marriage termination, it is time to decide whether you should stay or leave your house to start a new life. Take into account your responsibilities to support your family and kids during the procedure of divorce, and the way you will fulfill them once you are single.
Consult with your lawyer on how you need to act now to get the most out of divorce. Your actions should aim at doing the best for your kids and enhancing your image in the eyes of a judge. Also, if leaving your house contributes to decreasing tensions between you and your partner and helps reach an amicable divorce, don’t hesitate to move out.
