Should You Wait to Divorce Because of the Coronavirus?

 Posted on March 23, 2020 in Divorce

The coronavirus epidemic has created shockwaves throughout society, and some marriages may be part of the collateral damage. Millions of residents in the U.S. – including those in Illinois – have been ordered to stay at home as much as possible. Some of those residents have lost their jobs, leaving their financial future in doubt. With couples feeling immense stress and unable to escape each other, they are more likely to argue and feel resentful towards each other. Increased time together can also make it more obvious if they no longer love each other or feel unhappy in their marriage. Some couples may conclude that they would like to divorce. However, should they delay getting their divorce until after the epidemic has calmed down?

Reasons to Wait

If your mind is made up that you want to divorce, you may feel restless to get started. However, this may not be the best time to do so. Consider these questions:

• How might getting a divorce affect your finances, especially if you recently lost your job?
• Is it feasible for either of you to move out right now?
• What would you do about health insurance, which you may need if one of you gets infected?
• How would your children react to learning about your divorce, on top of everything else going on in the world?

There is also the issue of court availability because courthouses are limiting the cases that they hear to those that are deemed urgent, such as criminal cases in which people are being detained. When the courts begin operating normally again, they will have a backlog of postponed cases that they need to hear before they even get to new cases.

Reasons to Divorce Now

Firstly, the coronavirus epidemic should not delay your decision to separate from your spouse if you are the victim of domestic violence. Your safety is paramount, and an order of protection could help. Secondly, you can get started on your divorce immediately, even if the court may not hear your divorce petition until later. Without having to leave your home, you can:

• Conduct remote meetings with your divorce attorney
• Research the marital properties that you will divide in your divorce
• Determine what you need from your divorce agreement

Finally, spouses who are getting a divorce can still live together. The best thing to do will be finding your own spaces in your home where you can have privacy and avoid each other.

Contact a Kane County Divorce Lawyer

This is a difficult time to get divorced, but it is still possible if you are committed to doing it. A St. Charles, Illinois, divorce attorney at Goostree Law Group is available for phone consultations if you need to learn more about the process. Schedule a free consultation by calling 630-584-4800.

Source:

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/25/coronavirus-lawyers-expect-a-rise-in-divorces-after-self-isolation.html