The Divorce Guide for Filing for Divorce during the Pandemic

Because of the lockdown, some couples are forced to face their struggles and problems in their relationship. The pandemic also caused stress and emotional mishaps, and because of those, some couples are now in conflicts. If you are thinking of going through a divorce now but you are worried about the lockdown orders, you should weigh the pros, cons, and the timing of the divorce. While everything is a personal decision, there is nothing wrong with informing yourself to make a sound decision. 

Understanding the process of divorce

Each state has different guidelines when it comes to divorce. You should familiarize yourself with them by calling a divorce lawyer in your area. You do not have to wait for the lockdown to be over to file for a divorce, because some states have cooling periods. Sometimes, it takes 60 days before you can start the process of your divorce, so we advise you to file it now even though we are on lockdown. 

A divorce does not have to be filled with conflicts, emotionally and financially draining, and long. It can be granted after the cooling period if everything has been settled between the spouses. However, if complex issues are lying on the divorce matters and disputes arise instead of agreement, then expect a quite lengthy process of divorce. If you and your spouse both agree on the divorce and you can settle the division of assets and parenting time on your own, you may do so and your lawyer will just present it in court. This is called an uncontested divorce. On the other hand, a contested divorce is a bit longer because the negotiations and settlement cannot be done by the couples alone, so the court has to intervene. This also happens to some couples divorcing if the other has a fault. 

Prepare your financial records

It is better if you and your partner already discussed and agreed about the division of assets. However, your legal documents and financial records will still be needed. So it is better that you gather them while waiting for a judge to hear you in court. Prepare your tax returns, bank statements, documents about your retirement funds, investments, properties, or if you have loans and mortgage documents. 

These will all be necessary for the process of your divorce. Moreover, if it is a contested divorce, these will all be needed for the asset division. 

Do not face divorce on your own

Even if the divorce is a mutual agreement, it may be stressful and emotionally draining. So you should have a divorce lawyer you can rely on, a family that will support you, and friends who will stay by your side. However, keep in mind that you need to be careful when you confide to a family member or a friend because they might be witnesses in the trial. 

You should get yourself an accomplished attorney who is knowledgeable in family law to handle your divorce case. We are here for you. We have been working with clients and helped them get through the divorce processes. Call us today.