How Has The Divorce Process Changed During COVID?
COVID-19 has impacted all aspects of our daily life. The changes are too numerous to count for most of us. If you and your spouse have decided that your marriage is over, you might feel uncertain about how to proceed with the divorce process, given the pandemic, family stress and concerns about contracting the virus. In fact, many couples report feeling stuck or frozen during this time, concerned about how to make a big change during such an extraordinary time. Johnson Mediation can guide you through the divorce process during COVID-19. We understand how stressful thinking about a divorce during the pandemic is for many couples
The court system has been difficult to access during the COVID-19 pandemic for obvious reasons. In addition, even if courts are open, the wait times to get in front of a judge can be extremely long. This makes it difficult for couples to move through the divorce process in an efficient and timely manner. In addition, some families do not want to risk the additional exposure that the in-person litigation process requires. Many couples are now looking to divorce mediation services as a way to complete the divorce process from the comfort of your own home.
We have all probably heard the familiar phrase “nearly ½ of all marriages end in divorce.” The truth is,however, this may no longer be the case. In fact, the divorce rate has been declining in the last several years and is currently hovering around 39-40%. There are many reasons for this trend, and over the last year, the pandemic has likely pushed these numbers down even further. Are couples staying together because they are happier? This is unlikely. Here are some of the reasons why the divorce rate is declining:
There are many different reasons why couples choose to divorce. For some, they report that their partner is not committed or is no longer interested in the relationship. For other couples, they may decide to split up because of trust issues, infidelity, high conflict, lack of communication, differences in goals or expectations, financial problems, substance abuse or even domestic violence. No matter what factors have contributed to the decision, divorce is widely known as one of the most stressful life events. Divorce mediation has been documented as the most effective way to proceed if both you and your significant other are ready to end the relationship.
The pandemic has had a profound impact on families in our country, our economy, and our workforce. Parents are juggling virtual school for their kids, changes in job status, financial burdens are high, and we have all had to incorporate social distancing and masking into our daily lives. It is interesting to note that even though many of us have been spending much more time at home under this stress, marriage rates and divorce rates are on the decline compared to pre-pandemic data. At a time of unparalleled stress, what might be accounting for these marriage and divorce rates?
The new year is traditionally a time for people to look at their life and assess their successes and failures and look ahead toward a new year full of hope and change. Many people make new year’s resolutions to exercise more, eat less or connect with the people you love. For couples that have been struggling for months, if not years, a new year can also be a time to mark the end of a relationship and a new beginning for your family. If you have decided that you and your spouse are going to divorce in the early part of 2021, divorce mediation might be a tool to consider in resolving important issues like division of joint property, child custody and the need for spousal support
