While many divorcing couples can’t wait to get out of each other’s hair, moving out of the family home can be difficult when a divorce is pending. Thus, many feuding couples are forced to continue living with one another as they wait for their marriage to be terminated. While this is never a pleasant scenario for either party, there are some steps you can take to make things a little easier.

This post highlights several guidelines to follow when living with a soon-to-be ex-spouse. We hope you find the information within useful, and invite you to call us directly if you have any additional questions. For now, here’s what you need to know about sharing a space with an ex-partner while you wait for divorce proceedings to move forward.

Plan Ahead For a Child Custody Arrangement Plan

When there are children in the mix, the best thing you can do during this time is to come to an agreement with your ex-spouse about current and future custody arrangements. If you can look past your differences long enough to begin formulating a parenting plan, you could avoid a costly custody battle and help foster a healthier relationship with each other, and with your children, as the divorce moves forward.

Establish Clear Financial Responsibilities and Roles

Since you’re still sharing a residence, you’re still sharing financial responsibilities. Take the time to draft up a budget and determine who pays what, and remember to close or modify bank accounts to reflect the changes in your relationship. Try to keep emotions out of this, as the bills still need to be paid and any unnecessary conflict could lead to much bigger financial problems down the line.

Define and Stick To Personal Boundaries

This is critical: you and your ex-spouse need to be able to define clear personal boundaries that you will both adhere to. Determine who gets what space within the home, assign household duties as needed, and definitely avoid bringing any new partners around to ensure that the environment remains as peaceful and stress-free as possible.

Contact a Trusted California Divorce Attorney

We at the R & S Law Group, LLP are equipped to handle any type of family law matter in and around Orange County. If you want to learn more about how we can help you with divorce, child custody, or any other related matter, be sure to call our office directly to schedule a free initial consultation.