The last several months have been an unusual time for Americans, who have seen their everyday lives completely upturned as a result of the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. One area in which the pandemic has had a significant effect is on marriages and the divorce process.
Experts had predicted there would be a significant increase in the divorce rate due to people in bad marriages being locked down together for much more time in a given week than normal, as many people lost their jobs or were forced to work from home. While we have not yet seen this surge in cases, this could be in part because of the extra challenges has posed for people looking to go through with a divorce.
Here are a few of the ways in which the pandemic has affected divorce cases in America:
- Court closures: Many state courts have been closed for all non-essential cases and hearings, which typically includes divorce-related matters. They remain open for pressing needs like issuing emergency protective orders, but many divorce-related hearings are delayed.
- Mediation: Mediation is still an option for divorcing couples, but sessions will likely occur online. There are some pros and cons to this—some people prefer in-person meetings, but e-mediation definitely offers extra convenience and time savings, and can help level the playing field a bit.
- Asset division: It can be difficult to determine what people’s assets will be worth in the coming months, as we’re still in the middle of unpredictable pandemic-related economic turbulence. This makes the asset division process a bit more complicated than usual.
- Renegotiation: For people who have lost their jobs or had their income drop, they must file motions to modify their child support or alimony payments. However, it can be difficult to have this motion processed quickly due to court closures. Courts will likely be receptive to these changes when they’re open and able to process these motions, but delays may put payers in a difficult financial spot for now.
For more information about the effects of the pandemic on divorce cases, contact an experienced Minneapolis divorce lawyer at Appelhof, Pfeifer & Hart, P.A.
