Advice for Divorcing Spouses During Lockdown

The last few months have been a little bit crazy. The coronavirus has impacted pretty much every aspect of people’s personal and professional lives. When it comes to the former, couples amid a divorce may be very concerned. Below we’ll discuss the various ways — from communication with your family lawyer to maintaining a peaceful home — to make sure divorcing spouses during lockdown can be as productive as possible.

Here is Advice for Divorcing Spouses During Lockdown

Make Sure You Have Separate Areas of the House

The current situation is unlike anything we have experienced before, and therefore the feeling of being cooped up indoors, without socializing with friends and normal work life is alien. Combine that with the difficulty of a divorce, and you have the potential for a very toxic environment at home. It’s for this reason that it’s crucial for divorcing spouses during lockdown to establish areas of the house that are theirs so they can spend quality time alone. You may already have this in place if you have separate bedrooms and are only living together until the divorce is resolved.

This doesn’t mean you have to hide in your room for the entirety of lockdown or completely ignore your spouse. In fact, you’ll find that making as much of an effort to coincide as possible will benefit you greatly when it comes to day-to-day life as well as long-term decisions and negotiations regarding your divorce. 

Use the Time to Negotiate Your Finances Efficiently

The division of marital assets is the aspect of divorce that not only creates the most amount of stress but also can make the entire process more complex. While many couples do manage to agree on the terms of their divorce without disputes or ongoing negotiations, for others, negotiations are required to establish the specifics of each party’s post-divorce finances.

Whether you and your spouse are still living in the same home or are living separately, using this period to plan for your separate futures and discuss the most reasonable financial solution for you and your children is essential. Although the lockdown is a burden for many reasons, with fewer distractions and more time to focus on the most crucial aspects of your life, it provides you with a good opportunity to have productive conversations with your spouse.

Find a Hobby

You may well already have this covered, but during a time where boredom and inactivity are rife it’s essential to have a hobby that keeps your mind busy and provides you with a source of entertainment when you need it. Since the lockdown was put in place, many people have decided to use it as an opportunity to adopt a healthier lifestyle and embrace new fitness activities. 

Exercising is beneficial for getting in shape, losing weight and also boosting your immune system. But having a hobby can also prove to be the most effective way of getting out of the house regularly and blow off steam. The latter is especially important during a divorce, as many different variables can encourage stress. 

Maintain a Stress-Free Environment for Your Children

Divorce with children is always an extremely difficult situation that should be handled delicately.  But during isolation, there is a lot more opportunity and potential for tempers to fray and arguments to happen. The hostility of divorce is not only stressful for those involved, but it can also have long-lasting, traumatic effects on both younger and older children. Therefore, it should be your top priority to ensure your children don’t have to witness confrontations or reside in a stressful environment.

Although this is easier said than done during a divorce, there are always ways to get around it. For example, the children could spend time with each parent separately to decrease the time the spouses spend together. While a divorce is a very divisive situation in many regards, parenting should always consist of selflessness and teamwork, and this is no different during the lockdown.  

Consult with a Top Divorce Lawyer

This should always be your first step with a divorce or any legal matter, but it’s vital to seek the advice and guidance of a top divorce lawyer. Many people will undoubtedly be wondering how to move forward if they are in the midst of a divorce during the COVID-19 lockdown, but you’ll find you can still make progress with remote services. For example, you can easily communicate via phone or email, but divorce solicitors are also offering video calls to provide a face-to-face meeting for clients who require it.

Also, if you are worried about not being able to finalize your divorce because of everything that’s going on, there’s no need to be. If you and your spouse can reach an agreement on the terms of your divorce, the process will naturally be simpler. But if not, the courts are carrying out remote hearings via video conferencing. Although you may have to wait until things go back to normal until you can fully move on with the rest of your life, you will have the peace of mind knowing your divorce is final.