(Newswire.net — July 13, 2020) — One of the hardest processes that someone may have to go through is a divorce. While a divorce is very challenging in any situation, the recent pandemic of COVID-19 has added a variety of challenges to the process that people should be aware of. Divorce cases during the pandemic are being handled a variety of different ways, which can help to keep people safe during the process.
Social Distancing is a Key Part of Process
When going through a divorce, both parties are bound to spend time with lawyers, mediators and other professionals in the industry. However, at this point it is widely considered prudent to practice social distancing as much as possible. This has led to many of the processes to be completed using virtual chats and other forms of communication. While this may seem less personable, it can help to save time for people that are already busy with the other challenges that have been brought by COVID-19.
Electronic Documentation
One of the changes under COVID-19 that many believe will continue further into the future is the use of electronic documentation. While electronic documents have been used in other areas, the use in divorces has been less common. During COVID-19, many people that have gone through a divorce have ended up signing electronic documents. This is a more efficient process as it allows someone to receive their documents quickly and can be notified when they have been signed by all parties.
Pandemic Could Affect Family Court Considerations
Another way that the pandemic could affect a divorce is the way that family court considers housing needs. The pandemic has impacted people in many different ways, particularly those that have kids. During COVID-19, many normal processes have been disrupted as child care centers and schools have closed. Even if they open in the coming year, it is bound to be on a more limited basis. Due to this, family court is going to want to ensure that all people are able to provide children with a safe environment and access to the resources they need to be educated and cared for. This could also affect alimony and child support determinations.
Asset Splits Require More Consideration
When you are going through a divorce during the COVID pandemic, the way assets may be split can also be more challenging. Due to the pandemic and economic shutdown, many people all over the country have seen their investment portfolios and even housing values decline dramatically. While there is going to be a lot of volatility in coming years, coming up with a way to split assets due to this volatility can be difficult as it may not make sense to liquidate assets when the market is down. All parties involved will need to develop a more detailed plan for who gets what assets and when certain assets will need to be sold.
Process Can Be Slower
Another factor about getting divorced during the pandemic is that the process can be a lot slower. Most of the time, all people involved would be better off having the divorce handled quickly. However, with the current pandemic, many steps of the process are delayed. This includes the process of filing paperwork and going through the civil mediation and court process. Due to this, it is important that all people involved be patient and figure out a way to be civil during the proceedings.
Getting divorced is never an easy process. While it is always very stressful when you go through a divorce, the circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic have made this much more challenging. Due to the challenges that exist today, divorce cases are being handled differently than they would be handled in the past. Being aware of these challenges can help someone handle the situation better and could result in a smoother process for all people involved.