A divorce is a significant upheaval for everyone involved. You may not know what steps to take next. If your relationship with your spouse is contentious, you may want to move out, so you do not have to live with them anymore.
You may need to move out during your divorce to protect your safety. If you do not, you should know the impact of moving out.
Custody of minor children
If you choose to move out during your divorce and your children stay in the marital home, the court could consider this as a factor in assigning custody. The court will want to maintain as much stability for the minor children as possible, allowing them to continue to reside in the family home with the spouse who did not move out. You can help avoid too much preference for your spouse by choosing a new residence close to the family home and by maintaining regular visits and interactions with your children.
Protection of personal property
You may have items of personal property left in the marital home when you move out. It is preferable if you can agree with your spouse on the maintenance of that property in the marital residence until you can collect the items. Without an agreement, you need to document the location and condition of anything you want to recover to protect the property from damage.
Divorcing spouses who continue to live together are likely to experience a high-stress level. You want to consider your options carefully.