What Does A 34% Increase in Divorce Rates Due to COVID 19 Say About Marriage Today?
Divorce rates are on the rise, up by around a third at 34% over last year, and this is in large part thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated factors. According to Templates data the first 4 months of the pandemic were when divorce rates really took off. Divorce lawyers across the country are finding an increase in calls and inquiries about ending marriages.
Newlyweds who had only been married five months or less seemed to have the biggest jump in divorce rates, but marriages which lasted less than five years also saw a big increase as well. Part of the reason for this could be a combination of stresses, including quarantine during COVID-19 when couples were isolated together, unemployment and financial woes, and other issues caused by the virus.
Divorce Lawyers in Florida are Busier Than Ever Because of the Challenges COVID 19 Presents!
Family law attorneys and divorce lawyers have seen a lot more business this year when compared to the same periods last year, and the highest rates also tend to coincide with the highest deaths from the COVID-19 virus. Death, the loss of a job, the loss of a home, financial problems, and health issues are all big causes of stress individually and this pandemic combines all of these into one.
The quarantine and lock-down orders have created enormous stress for most Americans. Child care, educational changes, job loss and unemployment problems, and the reality or even the possibility of loved ones dying from this virus are causing higher divorce rates. Some of the marriages that end in divorce may have had a different outcome if the initial period of the marriage wasn’t so stressful.
Interesting Facts and Statistics About Divorce Rates and COVID-19
- During the initial four months of 2020 the divorce rates were 34% higher than they were for the exact same period in 2019.
- The highest level of interest in divorce according to divorce lawyers was on April 13, 2020. This was approximately three weeks after lockdown orders and quarantine measures were put into place.
- Bible Belt states in the South had the highest divorce rates out of all the states in the USA.
- 31% of spouses admitted that their relationships suffered irreparable damage because of COVID-19 quarantines.
- The 5 states with the highest divorce rates and busiest divorce lawyers were Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Mississippi. It is no coincidence that these states were also the most devastated when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, or that these are also states with half of the workforce has employment in an occupation that is categorized as high risk of layoff.
- Domestic violence is on the rise, with spousal abuse and child abuse rates increasing along with the divorce rates.
- COVID-19 has forced many people to face their own mortality and reevaluate what they truly want from life.
Marriage can be tough even in the best of times, and these times are certainly not the best during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Sacks & Sacks Family Law Firm understands the stress, anxiety, and worry that you feel, and we are here to help. Whether you need a knowledgeable and experienced divorce lawyer to represent you or you just have some questions and need answers we are simply a phone call away.
Call (904) 396-5557 today to schedule your free consultation!
Sources:
“Divorce rates in America soar by 34% during the COVID-19 pandemic with marriages crumbling three weeks into quarantine and newlywed separations doubling to 20 percent.” dailymail.co.uk https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8674001/Divorce-rates-America-soar-34-percent-COVID-19-pandemic.html Accessed 2 September 2020.
Andy Fies “Surge in Divorces Anticipated in Wake of COVID-19 Quarantine.” abc.news.go https://abcnews.go.com/US/surge-divorces-anticipated-wake-covid-19-quarantine/story?id=70170902 Accessed 2 September 2020.
