As we endure weeks of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ statewide closure of schools and non-essential businesses, many married couples are contemplating filing for divorce when the stay-at-home order is lifted and things return to normal. Marriages on shaky ground do not often survive, after prolonged periods of together time. Usually, we see an uptick in divorce inquiries following holidays and the summer break. The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, which has forced unhappy couples to shelter at home, promises to be a busy period as things return to normal.

One of the first things I suggest to my clients or anyone who has a consultation with me, is to find a therapist. Going through a divorce is highly emotional and you will need a support system to help you during this process. Although I have years of experience and consider myself a caring human being, I am only a lawyer and you should seek professional advice to help you from the emotional perspective.

Financial pressures, always a bad omen for a marriage’s survival, will be especially challenging post-pandemic because employment opportunities are limited to non-existent. No one who has been recently laid-off is confident that they will return to his or her job once their former employer’s business re-opens. I also advice clients to meet with their accountants to review their financial situation and the examine the posisble financial consequences of a divorce.

In light of the current environment, if you are considering divorce now or in the foreseeable future consider the following:

• Seek Legal Advice. A divorce by definition is an unraveling of your relationship with your spouse. Once a divorce gets underway, very little will feel under your control, especially if your divorce becomes contentious. The first step before filing for a divorce is to seek legal advice from a Broward County Divorce Lawyer. You must understand how a divorce will affect your marital property that can include items like your family home, retirement plans, and other financial assets. If you are the primary caregiver of your children, maintenance or spousal support, may be available to you as you return to the workforce or continue to provide care for your children.
• Collect Documents. A Broward County Divorce Lawyer will ask you to begin to gather documents to prepare a divorce plan that considers your financial situation and your family’s unique needs during the pendency of the divorce action and upon its conclusion. Among the documents you will be asked to gather are pay stubs, tax returns, insurance information, property appraisals, deeds, car titles, 401k plans, retirement accounts, and other financial documents.
• Pay Special Attention to Your Children. Children should be insulated as much as possible from the negative aspects of your marital discord. For their well-being, staying amicable should be your modus operandi. You will each continue to be parents to your children post-divorce, that relationship is not severed. Divorce is difficult but it does not have to devastate your family when it occurs. Before starting a divorce action, consult a Broward County, FL Divorce Lawyer, to understand your rights, responsibilities, and obligations.

Contact a Weston, FL Divorce Lawyer Today for an Immediate Telephone Consultation Regarding a Florida Divorce

If you are contemplating filing for a divorce and wish to know your rights to the settlement of marital property, maintenance, child custody, and child support, contact the Law Office of Dana Pechersky.