The quarantine imposed on different areas of the U.S. due to the COVID-19 pandemic has not only made people stay home but also the side effect of causing divorce rates to go up. The recent spike in requests for divorce proceedings shows these couples with a previous “normal” schedule of time together based around work, school and weekends have not coped well with the Coronavirus.
Large urban areas like New York, where millions live in close quarters, are among the main locations seeing the increase in requests for divorces. In the city of Xi’an, China, divorce requests went up so quickly as to stop appointment bookings at local governmental offices. Miami lawyer Sandy B. Becher specializes in family and divorce law. “If you are getting divorced, you may have questions about the process, filing paperwork, child custody, alimony, child support, and division of marital assets,” he says.
The downturn the stock markets have suffered the last three weeks have also lowered portfolios and heightened attention to how this, if ever, is the right time to file for legal separation from one’s spouse. “If someone has been thinking about getting divorced and has significant assets and/or income that is being negatively impacted, it could be a very favorable time to file for divorce,” adds Becher.
Becher has continued his practice through remote work and video conferencing with clients while his office has been receiving an increased rate of requests for representation. “I have noticed an increase in these types of inquiries in the last 10 days.”
Legal separation rates have been on the decline in the U.S. during the 21st century. The current spike in requests for divorce indicate that the Coronavirus has had a large influence not only on health but on society.
Sandy B. Becher, P.A.
Citigroup Center
201 S. Biscayne Boulevard
Twenty Seventh Floor
Miami, FL 33131
305.860.5811
