Is It Possible for Divorced Couples to Continue Living Together?

Because divorce is the legal termination of a marriage, many people assume it involves the full physical and legal untangling of a couple’s relationship. For example, filing for divorce is often thought to mean that one member of the couple will be moving out of the house while the other takes on the primary responsibility of raising and caring for the couple’s children.

What Typically Happens to a Marital Home in a Divorce

When a divorce is initiated, one party may ask the court to enter temporary orders to give that person temporary possession and use of the marital house. As their name implies, these orders are temporary and expire once the court enters the final divorce orders.

For many couples, the marital home represents one of their most valuable assets. And like other marital assets, it is divided between the couple during a divorce. The court typically accomplishes this division by awarding ownership and possession of the marital home to one of the parties while awarding the remaining party with other marital assets to compensate them for the value of the home.

Is There a Prohibition Against Living Together in Michigan?

Some states impose a legal requirement on divorcing couples to live separately from one another for a period of time before filing for divorce and during the pendency of the divorce. However, Michigan is not one of those states.

Michigan also allows divorced couples to live in the same home after the marriage is over. Thus, you and your ex may continue residing together, even if only one of you was awarded full ownership and possession of the home.

Just Because You Can Live Together Does Not Mean You Should

You and your ex-spouse might have legitimate reasons for living together during and after your divorce. For one, continuing to cohabitate reduces the cost of living at an individual level and provides you with another source of income to help meet household expenses. Living together can also give you a ready source of support when raising your child. For older couples, living together after divorce can additionally help guard against an unattended medical emergency in the home.

Before you and your ex agree to cohabitate, though, you should consider the consequences of this decision. Your ex-spouse may be interested in starting a new relationship, and cohabitating may make this awkward or unpleasant. Cohabitating can also be extremely confusing for your children, especially younger kids. This confusion can lead to considerable distress when you and your ex do decide to physically separate.

Contact Gucciardo Family Law for Additional Assistance

Count on the experienced Michigan family law team at Gucciardo Family Law to provide you with honest advice about your rights and what you can and should do during and after your divorce. Reach out to us today and experience the difference that knowledgeable legal counsel can make in your divorce case.