Legal Question in Family Law in Indiana

Re: living with someone before finalization or after finalization of divorce

There are many schools of thought as to what is a proper adult relationship for a child to be exposed to. If a parent objects to the other parent's relationship with a new partner, he or she has to prove that it would be emotionally detrimental to the child. It seems to be relatively easy for a judge to back up the custodial parent complaining about the noncustodial parent residing with a new partner and having the child for visitation - as it might give the child the idea that this is the way it ought to be and that people do not have to be married. Unfortunately, this is more of a quasi-legal-quasi-moral question. Most judges will back up the complaining parent while the parties are still married, but not so much thereafter - and never when the complaining parent is doing exactly what he or she is complaining about. There is no really happy choice for anyone in this situation. I think the best way to look at the situation before getting entangled or into a big argument is to honestly look at how you would feel as a child whose parents are divorced and one or both parents have new relationships. After that consideration, think about adult jealousies - jealousy about a former partner's new partner; jealousy about potential loss of a child's respect or love; unhappiness that someone else moved on with his life while you are in an emotional quagmire. No easy answers.