How to share a home with your spouse during divorce

 Posted on March 27, 2023 in Divorce

When a marriage is no longer tenable and you decide to divorce, one of the biggest issues you will contend with is whether you should leave the family home or not during the divorce process. Of course, either decision has repercussions. Sharing the same living space with your spouse can be quite uncomfortable. On the other hand, moving out could impact your property division goals.

If you decide to live together during the divorce process, it is important that you come up with some ground rules. Here are three helpful tips that can help you share the home with your soon-to-be ex while working out the terms of your divorce.

Establish a personal space

Even if the divorce is amicable, it is important that each spouse has a space they can call their own. This includes having separate bedrooms and closets. Additionally, you need to discuss how you are going to share common spaces like the kitchen, washrooms and living room. If you have shared computers or had similar passwords, you may want to set boundaries here too.

Begin working on a parenting plan

It is important that you come up with a parenting schedule that allows each spouse to spend time with the kids. This will help you adjust to your future parenting plan schedule once the divorce is finalized and you’ve gone your separate ways.

Learn to manage your emotions

Living with someone you possibly loathe can be difficult, to say the least. However, it is imperative that you keep a clear head, especially when interacting in the presence of the children. Be respectful to your spouse. Most impact, take care of yourself, get enough sleep and steer clear of habits (like drug and alcohol use) that can worsen an already difficult situation.

Protect your rights and interests

Unless there is a threat to your life, leaving the marital home before the divorce is finalized is not generally a good idea. Taking time to learn and understand how Illinois divorce laws work with the assistance of an experienced legal professional can help you protect your rights and interests before, during and after the divorce process.