COVID-19 Slowing Down Divorce Process
The coronavirus has done a lot of damage to this country. It has not only caused nearly 80,000 deaths, but it has also caused millions of Americans to lose their jobs. On top of that, we are quarantined at home with our families, which is not necessarily a good thing. All this extra time we are spending with our spouses is driving us nuts.
Married couples are either loving or hating having to spend 24/7 with their significant others. Spoiler alert: many people are hating it. Their marriages were in trouble to begin with and having to deal with their husband or wife day in and day out is causing many people to consider divorce.
A divorce, however, is difficult to obtain right now with the pandemic going on. Most courts are shut down except for emergencies. Law offices are working with reduced staff and limited services. Offices are not open, so everything has to be done remotely. The divorce process is stressful enough, but add a pandemic to the situation, and the process is filled with delays.
While you can certainly consult with a lawyer right now, filing the necessary documents is pretty much out of the question since the courts aren’t open. The couple does have the option to file an agreement together, but if one party disagrees with that option, then you’re stuck.
Your other options are mediation and collaborative divorce. With both options, you can avoid court. With mediation, you can hash things out with help from a mediator. In a collaborative divorce, you and your spouse work with lawyers, financial planners and other professionals to work out the details. However, there are no guarantees. If these options don’t work, then you’ll be forced to go to court.
Asset division is also difficult right now, since it’s tricky to say what a home, business or other important asset is worth. Values are decreasing with the economy tanking. Your $500,000 home may be worth only $400,000. Your business may have been worth $1 million before the pandemic, but who knows what the future will hold.
So what can you do for now? Tough it out. You can’t kick your spouse out of the marital home right now with the shelter in place orders being mandated. Be cordial for the time being, especially if children are involved. Also, don’t be thinking about revenge. Judges frown upon that and you can’t use COViD-19 as an excuse.
Seek Help for Your Divorce
Divorce is a complicated process in the best of times. Right now, the process is taking a lot longer than usual. Plus, with the quarantine in place, you’ll be stuck with your spouse for a while.
Get help from the Dade City & Zephyrhills divorce lawyers at Madonna Law Group right away. While there’s not much we can do to expedite the process, we can give you the advice you need so you can make the right decisions about the future of your marriage. Schedule a consultation by calling (800) 557-0411 today.
Resource:
nytimes.com/2020/05/08/your-money/divorce-coronavirus-courts.html
worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/
