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The Impact of COVID-19 on Global Divorce Rates

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Published by:

Aisha Patel

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Reviewed by:

Alistair Vigier

Last Modified: 2023-08-17

The divorce rate due to Coronavirus is going up. The saying goes, “Absence makes the heart grow stronger.”

So, what does being stuck in a small condo with your spouse for 14 days do? Well, if the number of calls my divorce lawyers receive is an indication, it’s not good for a marriage.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted life as we know it, and the institution of marriage has not been immune to its impact. While it is too soon to understand the full extent of the pandemic’s effect on the divorce rate, there are already indications that the pandemic has caused an increase in divorces.

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The Unexpected Surge in Divorce Rates During the Pandemic

One of the primary ways the pandemic has affected marriages is by forcing couples to spend more time together than usual due to lockdowns and social distancing measures.

Spending an excessive amount of time together has led to conflicts, disagreements, and a general strain on relationships. The stress and anxiety associated with the pandemic have only exacerbated these issues.

Caused financial strain

In addition, the pandemic has caused financial strain for many couples, leading to more significant problems in their relationships. The loss of jobs or a decrease in income has made it difficult for some couples to pay their bills and meet their basic needs. Financial pressure is a common factor that leads to marital difficulties and divorce.

The pandemic has also led to an increase in domestic violence incidents, causing victims to seek divorce as a means of escaping abusive relationships. The stress and anxiety associated with the pandemic, along with social isolation and financial pressures, have contributed to a rise in domestic violence cases.

The pandemic has made it difficult for couples seeking divorce to access legal services. Court closures and social distancing measures have created obstacles to filing for divorce and attending court hearings, resulting in delays in the divorce process. These delays add further stress to an already stressful situation.

Challenges brought about by the pandemic

Despite the many challenges brought about by the pandemic, some couples have found that it has brought them closer together. The pandemic has allowed couples to spend more time together and work on their issues, leading to stronger relationships.

Couples who have used the pandemic as an opportunity to re-evaluate their priorities and focus on strengthening their relationships have reported positive outcomes.

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the institution of marriage, with evidence suggesting that it has led to an increase in divorces. Spending excessive amounts of time together, financial pressures and social isolation have all contributed to a rise in conflicts and domestic violence.

Obstacles to the divorce process

While the pandemic has created obstacles to the divorce process, it has also provided opportunities for some couples to work on their relationships and emerge stronger. It is essential to provide support to couples struggling with marital difficulties during these challenging times.

The phone at our lawyer connection company has been ringing off the hook for the past month. Therefore, there are many family lawyers who are currently busy running from courthouse to courthouse all over Ontario.

This article has received a lot of attention in the last few weeks. If you are a journalist and are working on a story, feel free to reach out to us.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Global Divorce Rates

When the coronavirus spread to the rest of the world, no one would have thought that the toilet paper or divorce industry would be affected. Also, I am sure that Corona Beer also would not have expected to put out statements that they are not correlated with the virus.

The company that owns Corona beer, Constellation Brands Inc, started 2020 at a stock price of $188.30. As of the writing of this article, they have taken a large hit and now sit at $119.70. It goes to show that the stock market is based on emotion, not on logic.

The Divorce Industry Is Booming

Everything from small gatherings to large events seems to be being cancelled around the world. Some countries are banning foreigners from entering. Companies are desperately trying to figure out how to allow their employees to work from home.

Further, companies that cannot figure it out with likely go bankrupt. Employees working from home have led to couples seeing more of each other than would have been ideal. If things get worst with the virus in Canada, couples could have to stay at home for months, which happened in China.

Divorce Rate Due To Coronavirus

Staff no longer want to take the bus or the subway to work twice a day as they feel it’s too dangerous. My law firm is lucky in that we were already set up as a remote-based law firm prior to the Coronavirus outbreak.

Also, we work with our clients over email, the phone, and video conferencing. All of our client’s files are based in the cloud. We rarely meet our clients unless getting ready for family law court.

Our lawyers have been rushing to create separation agreements for clients. We have had to explain to clients that in Ontario you often must be separated for at least a year before the courts will approve a divorce.

Further, many clients seem to be desperate to file, so our lawyers are filing even before the one-year mark. Give the clients what they want, I guess…

The Impact of COVID-19 on Global Divorce Rates

A number of couples have been returning to Ontario from high-risk countries. This has required them to self-isolate for 14 days. This has created an environment of conflict and frustration.

They cannot go out and get a break from their spouse or see their friends. Some of the clients that have called our lawyers have reported they don’t want to live with their spouse anymore. Some have decided to move into motels and hotels instead.

Economic Strain and Job Losses: Catalysts for Marital Dissolutions?

We have had some potential clients who want to bring applications to get their kids and run off back to their home country. They wanted sole custody and they wanted to get out of Canada before “things got bad.”

The courts are currently full of these applications. Divorce lawyer Shahnaz Jamal posted:

“Just had a successful win in court!!! We successfully opposed an application to prevent my client from taking the Children to California for spring break!! The opposing party was concerned about COVID-19.”

Divorce Rate Due To Coronavirus

Sophie Trudeau also just returned from England. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted that Sophie was feeling sick and is being tested for the virus. Now Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in self-isolation as his wife.

The same happened to Tom Hanks and his wife, who was confirmed to have the Coronavirus in Australia. Therefore, my family lawyers are waiting to see if we get a call from Mr. Trudeau or Tom Hanks!

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