I am often asked by people going through a separation or divorce: ‘should I stay in the family home?’
My answer is: ‘it depends, but there are many advantages to being the one to stay in the former matrimonial home. If possible, do not move out until you have obtained legal advice from an experienced family lawyer.’
One advantage to staying in the former matrimonial home is that if you are the primary carer of the children, it minimises the disruptive impact of having to change residence with them.
Another advantage is that if the family law dispute is bitterly contested, it may take months or even years to be finalised. If you are the one to stay in the home, this stability is an advantage during this stressful and traumatic time.
Of course everybody’s situation is different. It may be necessary to move out of the former matrimonial home for the safety of you and your children. And that is why it is important to get good quality legal advice.
At Testart Family Lawyers, we are here to support you from the very beginning of a separation or divorce, to the very end. So if you’re after a divorce lawyer, get in touch for a free initial consultation. Getting advice before you make big decisions is the key to success.