COVID-19’s Impact on Divorce

By Lloyd Malech

Divorce applications and breakups have been skyrocketing around the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There has been a spike in searches for online advice for ending a marriage. In the United States, there has been a 34% rise in sales of the basic divorce agreements by legal contract creation sites. What is interesting is that 20% of these couples are newlyweds, married within the last 5 months.

At the beginning of the pandemic, China, which was the first to have such strict lockdowns, began this trend. Similarly when Sweden largely depended on voluntary guidelines to reduce the spread of COVID-19, their country’s divorce rate also rose.

This phenomenon has resulted in the need for more divorce/custody attorneys. The pandemic seems to be affecting the core of many relationships. Lawyers are beginning to get a more distinct perception of the scope of elements feeding into the COVID-19 break-up increase and why it seems set to extend into 2021.

Quarantining has caused many couples to spend extended periods of time together. Lockdowns, anxieties, and uncertainties have resulted in “the perfect storm” during the pandemic. In many cases, this has hastened separations and break-ups that would have eventually happened anyway. The pandemic has simply brought underlying problems in the relationship to the forefront.

Many issues can lead to marital problems, but money is known to be one of the most common causes of marital discord. Families that are faced with decreased income due to the pandemic are now confronting difficult choices regarding how to cope with their scarce financial resources. This unfortunate situation breeds the potential for major disagreements.

Financial stresses are being more strongly felt by men who often regard themselves as their family’s bread-winner. Some men may feel that their self-esteem, self-worth, and capacity to contribute to the family is being diminished due to the financial impact of the pandemic. In some instances, these stresses may result in anger, frustration, and anxiety, which can exacerbate the demise of a relationship.

If you are ready to take the next step and contact a divorce lawyer, then contact one who is experienced with these situations. I have served as a divorce/family lawyer for over 25 years. If you are a Maryland or Washington, DC resident contemplating separation or divorce, contact me for a no-obligation consultation (202.441.2107) to discuss doing so. If you choose to move forward, we can conduct our meetings remotely and discreetly or safely in person.

January 9, 2021