How the Pandemic Is Causing People to Re-Think Their Marriages

Our entire way of living has drastically changed since last year. We’ve learned new terms, like “social distancing” and “quarantine.” We’re used to going out with our masks, gotten comfortable with videoconferencing and homeschooling, and are settling into a different way of life as we deal with the coronavirus “new normal.”

Unfortunately, another common experience emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic is divorce. In fact, one company that markets DIY divorce forms reported a 57% increase in interest in separation, peaking in April – only about 20 days into nationwide stay-at-home orders. Further, they revealed that 58% of users seeking divorce information during the pandemic had only been married for five years or less, indicating that newlyweds are having a tougher time adjusting. Southern states in particular were hit hardest, with couples pursuing divorce at a level roughly two to three times the national rate.

Some even call it the “coronavirus divorce,” as Kim Brooks writes in a NY Times opinion piece about her own experience. Brooks explains that, although the pandemic did not cause her divorce, it certainly clarified her marital issues and added unforeseen wrinkles and complications.

For many people, the forced intimacy of the sudden closeness of quarantine can be a shock to some marriages. Brooks writes:

In regular times, we’re always in motion, we’re always hustling, we’re always consuming, striving, climbing, struggling to get from A to B. And if you are unhappy with your relationships or your marriage, there’s a thousand ways to distract yourself: travel, work, socializing…Now, all of the sudden, everyone has to be still. There’s no place to go but inward.

Some couples find themselves thriving in this environment. However, some simply can’t.

“With the added pressure and isolation of closed schools and closed offices, it’s not surprising that many women are finding themselves where I’ve been: separating finances, building a new life, negotiating a divorce agreement and all the work it entails. And doing it all by Zoom,” she said.

What are my options for divorce in North Carolina?

As family courts begin opening up, filing for divorce and separation is beginning to get back to normal, but wait times may be a bit longer. However, if your divorce is uncontested, you may begin planning issues like property division, alimony, child custody and support right now. If you and your spouse are amicable enough and able, you may be able to come up with a mutually beneficial agreement on your own that can be signed by an attorney and entered into the court.

If you cannot, you can also look into divorce mediation or arbitration, which keeps you and your spouse out of the courtroom but still provides an avenue for settling disputes.

The family law attorneys at Epperson Law Group, PLLC can assist you with any divorce or separation questions you have during these times, pandemic or not. We have technology like Zoom and encrypted emails and servers to keep you and your personal information safe.

We’re here to help you and your family. And, if you need assistance with an order of protection, please contact us immediately. Call us in Charlotte, Boone, or Weddington at 704-321-0031, or visit our contact page, and schedule your consultation.