Are you considering divorce after lockdown?

Reports show that divorce rates rocketed in China when during the peak of their country’s lockdown scenario

As couple and families all over the world are forced to spend more time with each other, due to the pandemic and subsequent social restrictions, cracks have reportedly appeared or even widened in some people’s marriages, with many considering divorce as the only option coming out of lockdown.

Before the coronavirus crisis many of us perhaps didn’t give too much thought to the status of our marriages, as we chased our tail between work, family commitments and our social lives. The daily routine kept our minds and bodies busy. However, for many, routine has been a distant memory during lockdown. As many of us stayed home day after day, starved of our usual contact with other people from our wider circle. Add in a stressful global pandemic – it’s perhaps not surprising that people have found it difficult to adjust.

Read the problem pages of various newspapers and you’ll find headlines that sound like this: “Lockdown has made me realise I don’t like my wife/husband very much!” Spending 24/7 with the same people, under these conditions, has the ability to bring a relationship’s flaws to the surface.

Evidence that courts may see a surge of couples looking to go divorce once everything goes back to normal is here: Google has seen a 60% rise in searches using the keywords “get a divorce”.

Is divorce the right option for you?

Whilst we’re not doubting that some couples know they’re headed for the divorce court – that lockdown has only confirmed what they were already planning – for other marriages, mediation may be a better alternative. These are unprecedented times, and every single one of us is coping with it in our own way. When you really think about it: does lockdown allow you to be perfectly objective about your life? Is your partner’s current demeanour typical, under normal circumstances?

Why not have a chat with Rucklidge Law Limited before you make any firm decisions? We can refer you to professional mediators if you think that it might help. We will also explain the divorce procedure in detail. i.e. how it will impact your individual family set-up and financial situation, and the things you will need to consider if permanent separation is clearly the path you wish to take.

Currently, the courts are not viewing divorce hearings as a priority during the pandemic; however, whether you’re sure or not that divorce is right for you and your partner, there are things you could be doing/thinking about in the meantime – so give us a call and have a chat with us.

The team at Rucklidge Law Limited are professional, friendly and non-judgemental. Call 0113 880 0864 or email [email protected] for more information.

If you want to find out more about divorce, you can find it on our website here.