You just met a woman who seems to be everything you’re looking for: interesting, attractive, and funny but there is one problem – she is separated but not yet divorced.
There are certain challenges and even dangers when it comes to dating a woman who is still legally married to another man even if they are separated.
There may be legal issues, emotional risks, and even financial problems that you might face.
Today we will discuss some of these challenges so that you are prepared before things get too serious.
Dangers of Dating a Separated Woman
1. She May Be Looking for a Quick Fix
Since she is still dealing with her divorce, she might be looking for a replacement for her ex either to take her mind off things or even to make him jealous.
This means she is probably not looking for anything serious even if she says that she wants a relationship.
2. She May Be Overly Emotional
A recently separated woman is still dealing with the pain of her broken marriage, and this means she may be overly emotional or prone to making irrational decisions, which could hurt her relationship with her new partner.
3. She Could Be Emotionally Unavailable
Even though she is separated, her focus may still be on her ex and the divorce proceedings.
This could make it difficult for her to open up to you and make a real connection.
She might not be able to invest the same amount of time or energy into the relationship as you would expect from a single woman, and could end up pulling away when things get too serious.
4. Your Family May Not Approve
Your family may not understand why you are dating a separated woman and may think that it is wrong or even unhealthy.
This could create tension between you and your family and make things more stressful for you.
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5. She Might Still Be Legally Tied to Her Ex
In some cases, even after legal separation, the couple is still legally married until the divorce is finalized.
Being legally tied with someone else can make it difficult to date as there are legal issues that will need to be sorted out first before things can progress further between you two.
6. She May Be Insecure and Jealous
Her previous marriage may have caused her to question the loyalty of men especially if her ex cheated on her and this could lead to trust issues in your relationship.
This also means she might be overly clingy or demanding which is not very healthy.
7. She Might Have Financial Issues
Since she is still dealing with her divorce, she may be looking for someone to help her out financially.
She might ask you to help her with legal fees or other expenses saying that this is the quickest way for the two of you to be together.
8. She Could Be Emotionally Dependent on You
A newly separated woman may rely on you emotionally for support and comfort during this difficult time in her life, which could end up being an unhealthy situation for both of you.
9. You Might Have to Keep Your Relationship a Secret
A separated woman may not want to introduce you to her friends or family because she is not legally divorced yet, which means you might have to hide your relationship from others.
10. You May Struggle With Jealousy
If the woman was in love with her ex-spouse before their separation, then it is possible that she still loves him even though they are no longer together.
This could make you feel jealous and insecure, which can lead to arguments and other issues if not addressed properly from the beginning.
11. She Might Go Back to Her Ex
Even if she has decided to move on and date you, there is still a chance that she could reconcile with her ex and go back to him.
12. You Might Have to Deal With Her Ex
Her ex may be hostile towards you and try to sabotage your new relationship. He could also try to use you in their divorce proceedings and drag you into court.
13. You Might Have to Deal With Her Kids
If she has children, you must be prepared to deal with them.
This can be a challenge if you have never been a parent before and you need to be ready for the responsibility and issues that come with dating someone with kids.
There is also a chance that kids will not accept you and may resent you.
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14. She Might Still Be Living With Her Ex
This can make things very awkward because if the two of them are still living together, it also means that they may still be sharing a bedroom or even sleeping in the same bed.
This can make you feel insecure and it could also create some trust issues.
15. You Might Be Helping Her to Cheat on Her Ex
Whether it counts as cheating or not to date someone else while separated depends on a couple of things.
First of all, you need to take into account your local laws.
Secondly, it depends on whether a woman and her ex agreed that they can date other people while waiting for their divorce to finalize or not.
If they didn’t and she sleeps with you it means that she is potentially cheating on her husband because she is still legally married to him.
Read next: 13 Big Red Flags When Dating a Divorced Man or Woman
