Are Divorce Rates and Custody Issues Linked to the COVID-19 Pandemic?
Corona-virus pandemic has infiltrated all aspects of our lives today. People are now facing new challenges as the virus has interrupted our normal lives. The Pandemic has impacted several aspects of life, such as the education systems, the economy, and it’s now creeping into people’s marriages and romantic relationships. Lawyers for family issues and relationship experts are predicting that divorce rates will increase after the Pandemic. Couples are now stuck together at home and are forced to confront issues they avoided before the Pandemic. According to the Legal Intelligence, busy routines, work, and social lives are out of the way; thus, tensions among couples are high due to increased stress levels which have also affected parenting time.
The Pandemic has increased emotional, physical and financial stress causing strains in most couple’s relationships. According to a report published by Bloomberg, divorce chances are increased among couples who spend too much time together in close quarters, as seen in the case of China. The University of Washington also conducted a study that showed divorces increase after summer months or holiday months as couples spend more time together.
The Corona-virus pandemic is not entirely to blame for the spike in divorce cases. Most couples already knew they had issues that needed to be solved before the Pandemic. The lock-down only magnified these issues and forced couples to talk about them. According to family court lawyers Ontario, most people involved in divorces often attribute infidelity, incompatibility, constant conflict and a lack of commitment as the reasons for the separations. When we find ourselves in situations where we want to separate from our spouses, we often wonder “Do I need a family law lawyer or a mediator?” Ensure to try talking to your partner before resulting in a divorce.
How the Pandemic is Affecting Child Custody and Parenting Time
Child custody issues have been brought to light during the lock-down. Parents going through child custody battles may find themselves with issues related to parenting time and exchanging the children, especially when they live geographically far from each other.
With Travel restrictions in the US, most parents refused to send their children on planes to their co-parents. These kinds of child custody exchanges have caused parents who are out of custody to spend longer periods without spending time with their kids. The major problem between co-parents is when they disagree with how to raise the children and handle situations that come from children upbringing. The difference in views between most divorced couples also translates to the government’s safety directives. According to family court lawyers Ontario, parents have a different interpretation of the government’s directives which adds to their stress levels, especially during the Pandemic.
A family law attorney Ontario has reported that parents are facing repercussions from law enforcement agents for preventing their children from traveling to spend time with the other parent as ordered by the court. When you find yourself in such a situation, the first question you ask yourself is “Do I need a family law lawyer?” Contact family law attorney Ontario to consider your options.
According to Divorce Magazine, it hasn’t been proven if child custody conflicts and divorce rates in LA, as well as the US, is directly linked to the COVID-19 pandemic lock-down. However, a lawyer for family issues is reporting an increased surge in cases all around the US. What is established, however, is that the lock down has been instrumental in testing the strength and resilience of relationships and marriages globally.
