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Oct 20

Don’t Rush Into a COVID-19 Divorce

Ready to Divorce After Quarantining? Consider These Three Things First

When U.S. cities and states began implementing COVID-19 quarantines in March, many relationship analysts predicted that marriages would suffer under the strain. Now it appears that gloomy forecast could be coming true. A recent online survey found that 31% of couples believe the quarantine caused irreparable harm to their relationship.

It’s No Surprise Divorce Rates Are Up

Family law attorneys and marriage counselors say it’s easy to understand why the quarantine was hard on relationships. The hustle and bustle of everyday life made it easy for some couples to ignore relationship warning signs. However, once they were forced to spend weeks or months in a confined space together, they could no longer escape their relationship problems. Add stresses like financial worries, unemployment fears, boredom and health anxieties to the mix, and many couples were pushed to the breaking point. Internet statistics show that divorce-related web searches spiked during the lockdown period, and divorce attorneys across the country are reporting an uptick in divorce inquiries compared to previous years.

If your marriage suffered during the pandemic, you may be ready to call it quits. However, there are three important things you should consider before making your divorce legal.

1. Is This Is Really the End?

Divorce can be a long, disruptive and expensive event. If there is any chance that you can reconcile with your partner and work toward a happy marriage, you may benefit from doing so. Marriage counseling could help you and your spouse resolve conflicts and get your relationship back on track. Many therapists offer virtual sessions, which is ideal for couples who are still in quarantine or want to maintain social distancing. However, not all marriages can be saved. If you believe your relationship is beyond repair, it’s better to end things and move on. You can start the process by contacting a Pennsylvania divorce lawyer and scheduling a consultation.

2. Understand That Your Life Will Change

Once you decide to divorce, you need to understand that your life will never be the same. The end of a marriage marks the beginning of a new life. Some of the changes will be good, but some could be unexpected and painful. For example, you may feel relieved when your partner moves out of the family home, but you might also find it difficult to maintain the property on your own. Meanwhile, you may love the peace and quiet that comes with separation, but you might struggle with your new identity as a single person or find that you lose friends over the split. Divorce causes many conflicting emotions and unforeseen social changes, and you need to be prepared for all the ways it could impact your life. A divorce lawyer might be able to help you identify some of these changes and make sure they are addressed during settlement negotiations.

3. Get Your Finances in Order

Even in the best of times, divorce is expensive. However, the COVID-19 pandemic could add an extra layer of financial risk. The threat of unemployment, rising health care costs and depleted retirement accounts could make it difficult to fairly divide assets. Because of this, it is essential that you fully understand your financial situation, including your income, assets and liabilities, before you enter divorce negotiations.

You need to create a realistic post-divorce budget and determine how you will pay for it on a single income. It might be necessary to change jobs, move into a smaller home, reduce discretionary spending or sell assets to stay within your means. Whatever the situation, having a clear financial picture will make it easier for you to negotiate a fair divorce settlement. It will also help you set realistic expectations for your post-divorce life.

The Law Office of Joanne Kleiner could help you navigate your divorce during the COVID-19 pandemic and offer essential advice on asset division, child custody, child support, spousal support and other important divorce legal issues. To set up a consultation, please contact us through our website or call our Jenkintown office at (215) 886-1266.

Sep 23

Domestic Violence Increases With Pandemic Lockdowns

Domestic Violence Surges During Pandemic

Many divorce lawyers have noted an increase in marital separations during the pandemic due to domestic violence. With the stay-at-home orders now being eased, we’re starting to learn the truth about what happened during the past few months. Even before the orders to stay home, 123 victims died from domestic violence in Pennsylvania in 2018.

A Worldwide Issue

Back in April, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres noted that domestic violence had increased during the pandemic as stay-at-home orders became the norm. Both social and economic pressures have led to problems within the home, a place where people should feel their safest.

In his speech, Guterres mentioned that the number of women who were calling support services had doubled. He urged that governments make it a priority to treat domestic violence as well as the coronavirus.

Families Are Stressed

At this unprecedented time, parents are struggling with economic uncertainty, financial concerns, political unrest and the possibility of COVID-19 infection. When questioned in social surveys, families reported the following emotions:

  • Anxiety
  • Feeling overwhelmed
  • Fear
  • Frustration

All this adds to the feeling of being stressed, which is hard on positive family dynamics. It is harder for people to regulate emotions when this stress occurs. Berating loved ones as well as themselves is how some people cope with the uncertainty of the times. Uncertainty may get so bad that it manifests as violence in the home. In some cases, this has occurred in homes where abusive behavior has never occurred before.

What is domestic violence? According to the National Domestic Violence Hotline, “Domestic violence (also called intimate partner violence, IPV, domestic abuse or relationship abuse) is a pattern of behaviors used by one partner to maintain power and control over another partner in an intimate relationship.”

Domestic violence can be physical or emotional. For example, regular threats and intimidation are signs of IPV. When the parents in a home are feeling powerless because of outside forces, such as the COVID-19 virus, it heightens the need to regain control. This may result in aggressive behavior, both mental and physical.

There is evidence that the murder-suicide rate in which a male partner kills a female and then himself has risen since the same period last year. There is no question that stress has been a factor in many homes.

While the country re-opens, those who have locked down with an abuser may begin to seek a solution. Lawyers are already noting the spike in divorce filings. However, it may be unclear for a while just how much domestic violence increased in 2020.

Children Can Get Through Divorce

Now that full lockdown has ended here in Pennsylvania, it might be time for you to move on. Your home may no longer be a safe place, and perhaps you feel as if you are lost in the water and are not sure how you’ll get back to the safety of the shore. Your children’s welfare could be a great concern as well.

The thought of divorce brings a lot of fear to some. If you’re in this situation, reach out to friends and family. Your kids will need to rely on you, and you can provide routines that will provide care and structure, assuring them of your love in an unsettling time.

Explain the separation to your kids. They may have already witnessed the reason while you were all at home, but it should now be discussed honestly with a child-friendly explanation.

Help Is Available

The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence works with local programs to ensure the safety of survivors of domestic violence. Their site also offers advice for staying safe during the pandemic, both in English and in Spanish.

Whether you have experienced abuse or not, it’s important to seek help from a divorce lawyer before ending a marriage. The Law Office of Joanne Kleiner can provide the legal guidance you need. Located in Jenkintown, our office serves Montgomery County, Bucks County and Philadelphia County. Contact us online or call us at 215-886-1266 to schedule a consultation.

Sep 19

The Impact of COVID-19 on Child Support and Alimony Orders

How COVID-19 Is Impacting Child Support and Alimony Orders

This year, the spread of COVID-19 brought most areas of everyday life to a screeching halt. With more than 45 million Americans filing for unemployment at the beginning of state-ordered shutdowns from mid-March to early April, most households have experienced a change in their employment and, possibly, their finances. Changing finances can affect the households of divorced couples and parents who have informal or court-ordered financial support arrangements in place.

How Covid-19 Is Affecting Spousal and Child Support

Recent spikes in unemployment have caused many people’s incomes to decrease rapidly and unexpectedly. For custodial parents and recently divorced individuals, a sudden reduction in their household income makes child support and alimony payments even more critical for maintaining their lifestyles. At the same time, parents and former spouses who are required to make maintenance payments may find themselves struggling to meet their financial obligations. As a result, both sides are more likely to find themselves seeking legal recourse.

Impacts on Child Custody Arrangements and Visitation

COVID-19’s effects extend beyond financial support orders. People who have court-ordered visitation agreements may be unable to follow their regular schedules due to travel restrictions and health advisories. Parents who typically meet their children in public settings during visits or to exchange custody may find it challenging to find a mutually convenient, safe setting in which they can have visits or pick up their children. In addition to parents facing logistical challenges, courts and administrative agencies must also develop solutions to compliance-related questions.

What Can Custodial Parents and Formerly Dependent Spouses Do?

Every case is different. Therefore, parents who have custody of their children and individuals who receive spousal support should immediately notify their attorneys if COVID-19 is disrupting their child support or alimony payments. In cases in which both adults can communicate civilly, both parties may be able to work out temporary arrangements and abide by them for as long as the pandemic impacts their original agreement. Parties that can agree to modify their agreement should contact their respective lawyers and put the new terms in writing.

What Can Noncustodial Parents and Former Spouses Who Pay Alimony Do?

Parents and individuals who are ordered to make support payments to their former spouses and/or their children may get a reprieve by requesting a modification. If the paying party is unable to agree with the receiving party to temporarily amend the current support order’s terms, the paying party may unilaterally seek a modification in court by filing a motion. To file the motion, the party who wishes to seek a modification should contact a divorce lawyer or, if the parties were never married, a family law attorney who specializes in child custody cases.

Jurisdictional Changes Due to COVID-19

Several jurisdictions across the U.S. are making adjustments to their standard procedures due to the impact of coronavirus. Courts are closed due to social distancing orders. In many cities and states, administrative staff members work remotely and may have modified office hours. Court closures and staffing limitations have led to delays in hearing schedules, and court access may be much more limited than under ordinary circumstances. The responses from different states have been mixed. In some states, courts may be shut down completely, which may result in compounding debt for noncustodial parents who have recently lost their jobs due to the impact of COVID-19 on business operations.

Legal Advice for Support Orders Affected by COVID-19

Whether you have been ordered to make maintenance payments to a spouse or support payments for a child or if you are the court-ordered recipient of support payments, the first step toward seeking legal remedy to challenges presented by COVID-19 is to contact a divorce lawyer. Your attorney will know about the latest updates on how your jurisdiction is currently processing cases that involve support orders. Our Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, divorce lawyer can help you navigate even the most contentious situations while protecting your rights. Call us today at (215) 886-1266 for a case evaluation.

Aug 22

Will a PA Court Hear My Contested Divorce During the COVID-19 Crisis?

Pennsylvania Courts Have a Backlog That Will Affect Contested Divorces

While Pennsylvania has among the lowest divorce rates in the country (9.2% according to 2017 data), there are still thousands of cases on the dockets at any given time in the state. The COVID-19 crisis has put a halt to many in-person court proceedings, and courts have yet to resume these proceedings except on a very limited basis. As a result, you can expect your contested divorce hearing to be delayed for some time.

Courts Are Struggling to Accommodate In-Person Hearings

Courts will eventually hear contested divorce cases, but in-person trials are still a bit in the future. This could make it difficult to conduct a full trial with witnesses and evidence. For the foreseeable future, contested divorce hearings would still be delayed as courts will struggle to accommodate these logistically. Moreover, judges are still clearing their backlog of urgent custody matters that they were not about to reach during the height of the pandemic.

Pennsylvania courts are limited as to what types of proceedings they can conduct right now due to the pandemic. Across the Keystone State, courts are opening on a limited basis. However, for the time being, most judges and court personnel are operating remotely. Only the most urgent matters are being dealt with on an in-person basis right now. Other than that, each jurisdiction is proceeding differently. For example, Philadelphia has canceled all in-person hearings through the end of the year but will conduct protracted hearings remotely over video conference.

Divorce Hearings Often Come Last

This will likely mean that judges have more pressing matters to get to before they reach a contested divorce case. For example, a family court judge may first want to handle emergency custody petitions or matters where the welfare of a child could be in jeopardy. This may require an in-person hearing.

However, contested divorces are not viewed in the same light. Most divorces will end up settling before they reach a court hearing. Judges often view contested result hearings as matters where the two parties simply cannot get along and agree with each other. These are hearings that judges do not like to schedule even when there is not a pandemic. This sentiment will only be enhanced now that court resources are very limited.

Nobody Knows How Long the Backlog Will Last

If you are wondering how long the backlog may last, it is really anybody’s guess. Family court matters are continuing to pile up as judges maintain limited schedules. Even when judges begin to clear their case backlog, their priority will not be contested divorce hearings. These will generally get pushed to the back of the list. If any emergencies are at issue such as custody matters, judges may schedule a remote hearing as opposed to an entire trial in person.

It is very difficult for the court to conduct an entire contested divorce hearing remotely with witnesses and your divorce lawyer. Coordinating a virtual trial with witnesses and other evidence will be a tall task for a court, even though this is how courts intend to hear cases for the foreseeable future. As a party to a divorce trial, you may not even want a remote divorce hearing to decide your case due to the difficulty of arguing your case. Even if it is possible, there is still a substantial backlog.

As a result, your best bet as a divorce litigant is to try to mediate or settle the case without the need for a judge to conduct the trial. If there was ever a time for collaborative divorce or settlement, now is it. Of course, even though analysts always urge you to avoid a trial, we recognize that it takes two to work together to settle the divorce. However, you should understand that going to court will mean that your divorce will take much longer to resolve. This could impact property division and other issues.

To learn more about the status of the courts and how it could affect your divorce, contact the divorce lawyer Joanne Kleiner at (215) 886-1266 to set up a consultation. Our office is located in Jenkintown, PA, but we’re taking social distancing measures to serve clients remotely.

Aug 18

Divorce Mediation During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Coronavirus Pandemic and Divorce Mediation

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, divorce was a stressful proposition. In the midst of the health emergency, divorce lawyers have canceled in-person meetings. With Pennsylvania’s confirmed infection toll at over 124,000 as of August, many of the county courts are just starting to tackle a backlog of family court cases.

Understanding the Mediation Process

Divorce mediation is all about communication. Often, when couples reach the point of splitting up, there are emotional barriers that make direct communication difficult. In a mediation process, the couple sits with a third party who helps them talk through the many decisions a divorce requires. Mediation sessions will cover such areas as:

  • Division of property
  • Child support
  • Child custody
  • Alimony

Candidates for Mediation

Mediation minimizes the amount of time spent in a courtroom as well as often lowering the cost of the divorce. However, the mediation process is not for everyone. Spouses must maintain a decent level of communication. If one partner cannot be in the presence of the other without getting angry and upset, this process will not be helpful.

For a productive mediation, both spouses must be committed to the goal of peacefully ending the relationship. This is not a counseling session where a couple is trying to resolve issues and stay together. Mediation is a process for formally ending a marriage.

Virtual Technology and Mediation

Because mediation is about meaningful communication, virtual technology allows the process to continue during a time of social distancing. Using an online communication platform like Zoom, the couple can meet with their mediator in a virtual mediation session. A conference call is another way that partners can communicate with the mediator.

The spouses will deal with the same issues in a virtual setting. However, online mediation will bring new challenges. In most in-person mediation processes, the sessions end with the couple signing forms together at the legal office. An action that took a few minutes may be extended to days as forms travel by mail or the spouses make separate signing appointments.

Delays in Divorce Because of COVID-19

Mediation is not the final step in divorce proceedings. If the mediation is successful, the couple will have a separation agreement that handles the necessary aspects of dissolving the marriage. However, the court must approve the agreement, and the couple must swear to the agreement through the court. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down this part of the divorce process.

The advantage of virtual mediation during the pandemic is that spouses do not have to wait to prepare the agreement. It is a great relief to have the separation agreement in writing and ready to go. As the courts reopen and begin to hear divorce cases, the couple will be ready for their final session.

Tips for Meaningful Communication on Virtual Platforms

The COVID-19 pandemic has moved a great deal of communication online. Of course, this kind of format is quite different than sitting face-to-face around a table. Couples can expect some challenges when working with this technology for mediation.

The couple should be prepared for pauses. Differing internet speeds can cause lag that disrupts the natural flow of conversation. When someone speaks, other participants should take a beat before responding. Participants can use hand gestures like waving to indicate that they would like to speak. In some cases, it will be best for the mediator to call on the participants for input.

The couple should be ready for the meeting. Online communication often feels less formal. However, these sessions will be the most productive if participants can minimize distractions and have all of their necessary documents in front of them.

Patience is a necessity. There will be frustrating moments during an online session. The technology may not always work perfectly. Children and pets will not always behave in the background. It is best to acknowledge the imperfections and move forward.

As a divorce lawyer in Pennsylvania, Joanne Kleiner can help you through the mediation process as either a mediator or legal advisor. To find out more, you can reach out to the Law Office of Joanne Kleiner in Jenkintown through our website or by calling 215-886-1266.