Why Are Divorces Increasing During the Pandemic?

 Posted on November 17, 2020 in Family Law

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected people in a number of ways. Layoffs and the permanent closure of certain businesses have received most of the attention, but there is another effect going on inside the homes of individuals that is not getting much attention. That is the fact that the pandemic has caused an increase in divorces, and it has left many people wondering why.

Financial Problems

Money has always been one of the main reasons couples get divorced, and that has been exacerbated during the current pandemic. Millions of people have lost their jobs and even when they are eligible for unemployment insurance, those benefits still only provide a fraction of incoming money couples are used to receiving on their paycheck. A loss or serious reduction of one or two incomes in the home can result in increased stress and more fighting, which can lead to divorce.

More Time

Whether people are sheltering in place or have nowhere to go because they have lost their job, there is no doubt that couples are spending more time together these days. All of that time together can result in increased fighting over small things that the same couple may not have fought over before the pandemic. When there are already problems in the marriage, the increased time spent together will only shine a light on those and make them worse.

Differences in Pandemic Opinions

There is no doubt that certain aspects of the pandemic have divided the country, but they have divided homes, too. One parent may become angry after finding out their spouse and children spent the morning at the park playing with other children. Or, a spouse may think their partner is being paranoid when they want them to wipe everything down with sanitizer before bringing products into the home. Even couples that can usually work through their differences quite well may find it more difficult to do now with the added stress of the pandemic and all it has brought.

Lack of Support

In a marriage, each spouse is typically used to relying on their partner for love and support when they are going through hard times. Now that the pandemic has created a tough situation for everyone, spouses may no longer feel as comfortable going to their spouse for support. For example, when both spouses have lost their job, one may not feel as though they can go to their husband or wife because they are going through the same thing and do not want to add to their burden. Even though intentions may be good, the lack of communication can really hurt a marriage and sometimes, lead to divorce.

Our Illinois Divorce Lawyers can Help During this Difficult Time

Of course, the hope is that married couples will come out of this crisis relatively unscathed and that they can soon get back to their normal life. Unfortunately, the stats have already shown that will not be the case for everyone. If you are considering divorce, have a dedicated Hinsdale divorce lawyer by your side by speaking to one of our attorneys at the Law Office of Martoccio & Martoccio. Call us today at 630-920-8855 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with one of our knowledgeable and compassionate attorneys that can help you through this difficult time.

Source:

https://nypost.com/2020/05/23/why-the-coronavirus-is-leading-so-many-couples-to-divorce/