NC does not recognize the status of legal separation. You are separated the day that you begin living separate and apart from each other. You may have a separation agreement which only makes it unecessary to take ED, support, or custody issues to court. It is legal to date during separation, however it is illegal to have sex with anyone other than your spouse, even during separation.
A relationship that begins too soon after the separation date may be cause to wonder if there was a relationship prior to the couple separating…but if it has been several months, then I would say you are probably not in danger of that.
My husband and I met only a month after he and his ex split up. By the time we began dating seriously a couple weeks later and she started causing problems, she was on her 3rd boyfriend and had moved twice.
This year of separation is very stressful and it may take all the time available to get used to a new situation. You are not single so it would be wise to decide before hand how you will handle the situations that come up with dating…
The answer to this question depends on your specific legal situation. You should consult with an attorney about any legal issues you may have and any implications that may arise from dating.
P.S. Please feel free to bring up this or any other topic on our live call-in show every Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. EST. Visit radio.rosen.com/live for details
Helena M. Nevicosi
Attorney with Rosen Law Firm
4101 Lake Boone Trail, Suite 500
Raleigh, North Carolina 27607
919.787.6668 main phone
919.787.6361 main fax
Charlotte Office
301 McCullough Drive
Suite 510
Charlotte, NC 28262
Main Phone: (704)307.4600
Main Fax: (704) 9343.0044
Durham & Chapel Hill Office
1829 East Franklin Street
Building 600
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 321.0780
The response posted above is based upon the limited factual information made available and is not intended as a full and complete response to the question. The only reliable manner to obtain complete and adequate legal advice is to consult with an attorney, fully explain your situation, and allow the attorney sufficient opportunity to research the applicable law and facts required to render an accurate opinion. The basic information provided above is intended as a public service only, a full discussion with an attorney should be undertaken before taking any action. The information posted on this forum is available for public viewing and is not intended to create an attorney client relationship with any individual. These answers are provided for informational purposes only, a person should consult with their own individual legal counsel before taking any action that could affect their legal rights or obligations.