A husband and wife have been sheltering in place in Illinois since mid-March. They have been spending nearly every minute together and they have realized that they need to get a divorce. During the coronavirus pandemic, all of the issues they have had throughout the last 15 years have resurfaced and life with each other has become nearly unbearable.
Without the distraction of going to work, going to social events, and spending time with friends, they are faced with the fact that they are totally incompatible; they realize it is time to cut the cord. As Illinois opens back up, allowing them to have more freedom, they decide it is time to do what they should have done years ago — seek a divorce.
The Coronavirus Pandemic Might Bring About a Divorce Boom
The shutdown orders necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic have caused an increase in calls from people who are ready to start the divorce process. In some cases, middle-aged couples have gotten a preview of what their retirement will look like. They imagine being retired and spending significant time with a spouse to whom they no longer relate. Sometimes couples realize that their children are the only thing they have left in common.
The spike in divorces is not limited to the United States. China saw a spike in separations as the country eased back on the lockdowns ordered by the government. The cities of Dazhou and Xian both saw the number of divorce filings reach record highs, causing the government facilities to become backlogged. The director of Xiaoyan’s marriage and divorce registration office stated that marital conflicts have escalated in the pandemic and many people have become disappointed in their marriages.
Financial Struggles and Major Life Changes Lead to an Increase in Divorce
Financial struggles are a leading cause of divorce under normal circumstances. During the coronavirus pandemic, financial struggles have become increasingly significant. Currently, a total of 40 million Americans are unemployed. One out of every four American workers has applied for unemployment benefits in the last 10 weeks. When a marriage is already struggling, the blow of unemployment can be fatal. The loss of a job can cause couples to struggle to communicate.
In some cases, people are making huge life changes that could cause divisions in their marriages. In other cases, differences of opinions over safety precautions have put a strain on some marriages. Perhaps a wife is ready to end an already difficult marriage because her husband thinks the pandemic is not a big deal and she is worried he will not adequately protect their child from the virus.
Advice for Illinois Residents Planning to File for Divorce
Coronavirus restrictions have made it difficult to file for divorce in Illinois. Nonetheless, once the restrictions lift, there will probably be a surge of people filing for divorce. Now is the time to begin the process of filing for divorce; you do not need to wait for Illinois to completely open back up. If the shutdown has helped you realize that it is time to pull the plug on your marriage, you need an experienced Illinois divorce lawyer. Contact Glasgow & Olsson today to schedule your initial consultation.