Benefits of Divorce During the Pandemic

Covid-19 has wreaked havoc on almost all aspects of our daily lives, and marriages were no exception. As much as a family should be together, maybe too much time together isn’t necessarily beneficial.  Some parents may notice an unequal distribution in household labor, or they may disagree as to parenting styles but simply did not notice due to being away from the house.  While the pandemic brought families together, it also began to tear them apart.  

If you feel the same way, know you are not alone.  According to an article from The National Law Review, statistics show a 34% spike in couples expressing interest in divorce.  Another article from Legal Templates indicated a rise in couples with young children pursuing divorce, which led to complicated child custody and visitation issues.  So while you are not alone, you may still ask yourself, is it a good time to actually file for divorce?

There may not be a universal answer that applies to every single person.  One must weigh the pros and cons of divorce, as well as the future ramifications of the divorce.  Will my kids be affected by the process? Who will live in the house we bought? Will I be able to live off of a single income? Will my divorce take years to complete? All these questions require deep thought and potentially a chat with an attorney.  But for those looking for a quick rundown, we have compiled some benefits to beginning the divorce process during this pandemic.

One benefit to divorce during the pandemic may be that you won’t have to appear in court, although this depends whether you and your spouse have an agreement in place.  Having an agreement in place means your divorce will be “uncontested”, and so all tricky aspects of the divorce, including child custody and visitation, property division, and spousal support if any, make divorce more appealing during the pandemic due to the relatively easy nature of the process to get a divorce finalized.  Uncontested divorces may not require appearances in court before a judge; simply complete your forms and file necessary documents with the court and apply for a judgment of dissolution of marriage.  While this has been in place before the pandemic, more courts are cognizant of the impact of Covid-19 and are less likely to bring couples into court if all papers look good for the judge to review and sign off on a judgment for dissolution. 

Even if your divorce is contested, there are more resources aimed at resolving those disputes.  Many couples have chosen online mediation to resolve their issues, saving money due to the lower costs involved, as well as  accommodating each other’s busy schedules.  Mediation is a legal process that enlists a neutral third party to assist in resolving any disputes, leading a couple towards an agreement and thus an uncontested divorce as previously discussed. If you think that divorce may be a headache because you just can’t stand to speak to your spouse, mediation may help bridge that divide.  More importantly, investing in a mediator may lead to large savings and prevention of headaches later, as unresolved disputes would go to trial and thus be more costly due to having to hire a trial attorney to ensure your interests are properly protected. 

Law firms have also adapted to the potential of Covid’s spread by upgrading their office’s technology.  These upgrades increased the efficiency of communication between attorney and client, as well adding more convenience to the client. The days of taking time off to visit your attorney’s office to talk about your case or strategize about upcoming mediations or depositions, or even filling out forms, have passed, and all these important meetings may be conducted through Zoom or other electronic means.  Document sharing has also proved effective in keeping the attorney and client on the same page and having the client updated on all aspects of his or her case, not to mention being better for the environment by saving loads of paper.  

Although divorce has not always been an easy process, or even accepted by some, for many the benefits may outweigh the detriments. 

Please call or email us to schedule your initial family law consultation.