5 Ways COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts Divorce Cases in Florida
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a tremendous impact on Floridians and other people across the nation. Business closures left many people with no means to earn a living, while court closures affected Floridians’ ability to start the divorce process during the coronavirus crisis.
If you are one of those with a pending divorce case during the COVID-19 pandemic or are considering filing for divorce, you need to understand how the pandemic can impact your particular case and the resulting settlement.
How the Coronavirus Pandemic Affects Divorces in Florida
The COVID-19 pandemic might impact several aspects of your potential or ongoing divorce case.
- You may not be able to live apart. While Florida’s family law statutes do not have a mandatory waiting period in order to seek a divorce, many married couples in Florida choose to separate before filing for divorce. After all, living apart for a while can help spouses understand whether their disagreements or conflicts are solvable or whether their marriage is headed for divorce. The coronavirus pandemic affected Floridians’ ability to find suitable housing and afford rent due to the fact that most people are not able to earn a living amid business closures.
- Your court hearings and other divorce proceedings may be delayed. If you were one of the countless people who filed for divorce before the pandemic and your case has been postponed indefinitely, expect significant delays in your ongoing divorce case.
- The economic instability may make it more challenging to negotiate the settlement. While Florida courts remain closed, your Orlando divorce attorney can still continue holding negotiations regarding your marital property and assets. However, the economic fallout from COVID-19 and the parties’ loss of a job and/or revenue can make it more challenging to divide assets.
- You may not be able to sell your marital house. Many married couples choose to sell their house as part of their divorce. However, given that the housing market crashed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, selling your house can be problematic, not to mention that the crisis has had a dramatic impact on home prices in Florida and across the country. Despite record-low mortgage rates that may be appealing to potential buyers, selling the house may take longer than usual amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
- It may be difficult to negotiate alimony and child support. Since the coronavirus pandemic has taken away many employment opportunities and limited many Floridians’ ability to earn a living, negotiating the appropriate alimony and/or child support payments can be tougher. If either spouse was furloughed or laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic, it could be challenging to negotiate alimony and child support orders.
Yes, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a tremendous impact on divorce cases in Florida. However, that does not mean that you have no option but to be stuck in your unhappy marriage. Talk to our Orlando divorce attorneys to determine how the pandemic might affect your particular case. Contact Greater Orlando Family Law for a case evaluation. Call at 407-377-6399.
