If you were contemplating getting a divorce before the novel coronavirus hit, you may have decided to put it off for the sake of your children or maybe for financial reasons. But with many people now stuck at home together for long periods of time, couples who were having marital issues before have now been pushed to the brink and their marriage may have hit a point of no return.
Florida Courts and Coronavirus
Florida courts are almost entirely shut down to the public right now (and for the foreseeable future) for all non-essential proceedings. Where possible, video conferencing is being made available so that some matters can still proceed while complying with social distancing measures.
This does not mean, however, that you cannot file for a divorce during the pandemic. First, there will be many things to consider, so your first step should be to contact the team at Veliz Katz Law to learn where you should begin your divorce journey.
Small but Important Steps to Take Before Filing for Divorce in Orlando
The first thing you should do is ask yourself whether or not divorce is really what you want at this time. As China grappled with the coronavirus outbreak there and residents were placed under lockdown, some cities saw a huge surge in the number of requests for appointments to request a divorce. Some Chinese couples rushed into a divorce, but then as soon as the divorce was final, they realized they had made a mistake and remarried.
We are all getting pretty tired of having to stay home with our families at this point, but if you and your partner have been arguing more lately, does that necessarily mean you are ready for a divorce? On the other hand, if you were having issues before the pandemic, the lockdown and worry over finances are probably not helping to boost your relationship.
Things to Consider when Considering a Divorce in Florida
There is a lot to consider when deciding to divorce. If you have children under the age of 18, you will have to think about a child custody agreement and child support. If your children are grown or there are no children, there are five types of alimony that Florida law provides for. Depending on your unique situation, mediation might even be the best option for you and your soon-to-be-ex to work things out to make the divorce process as smooth as possible.
An experienced and trusted divorce attorney from Veliz Katz Law can help you. If you are in the greater Orlando, Florida area and have decided that divorce is something you need to pursue, our firm is open for business and we are happy to talk to you either over the phone, email, or in-person if absolutely necessary. Contact us today to learn more. And as always, we at Veliz Katz Law wish you all good health, safety, and kindness!
