Divorce in the age of COVID: 2021 is a bit different for many filers

On Behalf of | Apr 5, 2021 | Divorce |

Not every marriage is an enduringly happy union, of course, and many New Jersey spouses and other couples spanning the country ultimately make reasoned decisions to terminate their marriages. Although that can certainly engender a few challenges, reams of evidence underscore the wisdom of ending failed relationships and securing a post-divorce fresh start in life.

How can that end goal be initially framed and pursued preceding an individual’s decision to formally engage the marital dissolution process?

Obviously, most persons contemplating divorce put a lot of advance thought into the matter. A divorce is far from a casual endeavor. For most involved parties, it prominently stands as a seminal life event yielding monumental changes.

As such, it was certainly the case that legions of couples gave careful and due thought last year to divorces they expected to negotiate and finalize in 2020.

Here’s a point central to last year that flatly undermined divorce expectations for many parties, though: An off-the-radar explosion of concerns tied to an unprecedented global health pandemic turned their marriage-ending expectations upside down.

A recent Forbes article addressing timing factors relevant to divorce underscores the frustration inherently linked with COVID-19 dislocations.

It states this: “Slowdowns, shutdowns, layoffs, child care challenges – many of us encountered aberrant financial and personal circumstances last year.”

The result: Many parties’ divorce plans for 2020 were completely shelved.

Revived hopes for normalcy and sound divorce planning in 2021

This blog post features during a distinct climate of rising public hope concerning the prolonged and life-upending COVID pandemic. Vaccinations are on a steady uptick. Businesses are again reopening. People are once again moving about and making plans.

The Forbes piece duly notes that, especially emphasizing the pent-up demand for divorces created by 2020’s singular challenges. It stresses that individuals whose dissolution plans stalled last year should not be dissuaded “from moving forward with a divorce in 2021.”

A proven family law attorney with a strong record of advocacy in diverse divorce representation can help guide the process. Timely and aggressive support/representation can prove invaluable to a client, especially in uncertain times. Experienced legal counsel’s role can extend to the following and additional matters:

  • Taking the lead in negotiations
  • Identifying, valuing and fairly dividing marital assets
  • Providing sound guidance in child-centric matters like custody/visitation and support
  • Evaluating settlement offers and crafting a protective divorce decree

The current year might reasonably throw up a few distinct divorce challenges for some impending spouses, but it can also spell opportunity and a renewed beginning.

An experienced and empathetic family law attorney can provide further information.