{"id":126541,"date":"2020-05-11T14:35:56","date_gmt":"2020-05-11T14:35:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dominiclevent.com\/blog\/?p=126541"},"modified":"2020-05-22T16:58:28","modified_gmt":"2020-05-22T16:58:28","slug":"covid-19-law-firms-brace-themselves-for-surge-in-divorce-rates-during-coronavirus-lockdown-realbu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dominiclevent.com\/blog\/covid-19-law-firms-brace-themselves-for-surge-in-divorce-rates-during-coronavirus-lockdown-realbu\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID-19: Law firms brace themselves for surge in divorce rates during coronavirus lockdown – Realbu…"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Many law firms are bracing themselves for a surge in divorce rates during the coronavirus lockdown.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

China, who was the first country to enter into lockdown due to COVID-19 saw divorce filings start to rise<\/a> at the end of March as couples emerged from quarantine.<\/p>\n

Naturally, life in quarantine has brought a new strain of challenges for couples who are trying to navigate a new reality of working and living at home together; furthermore, many families are facing immense financial difficulties, a report by market research company, <\/span>Piplsay<\/a> revealed that 39% of UK families have either applied or have plans to apply for unemployment benefits.<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s more, is that 54% of those surveyed have either lost their income or taken a pay cut.<\/p>\n

The rise in divorce rates is a common trend that is seen in times of economic turmoil. During the aftermath of the 2008 global recession, the UK saw approximately 13 divorces an hour granted<\/a> in England and Wales. Almost half occurred in the first 10 years of marriage. Since the UK has been in self- quarantine many marriages (who may have already felt a strain in their relationship before lockdown) may file for a divorce once laws have been lifted.<\/p>\n

Katie Spooner, Partner at Winckworth Sherwood<\/a> shares her advice many people considering separation may have below:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

In such unprecedented times, one question family lawyers are increasingly seeing is whether parties to financial orders will be able to challenge the provisions contained within them.<\/p>\n

Financial orders can cover a number of things ranging from what will happen to the family home to whether one party\u2019s pension will be shared with the other.<\/p>\n

Once sealed by the court, the order becomes binding when decree absolute is pronounced. That means that even if you have experienced a drop in income, or your business is one of the one in four in the UK that has had to close, that order will apply and if you fail to abide by its terms, you will be in breach of it.<\/p>\n

Although the general rule is that parties to financial proceedings get \u2018one bite at the cherry\u2019, it may be possible for you to vary the order. For example:<\/p>\n

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  1. Orders for spousal or child maintenance may be varied upwards or downwards in response to a change to a payee or payer\u2019s income. The length of time that they are in force for may also be reduced or extended.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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    1. Where a lump sum is payable by instalments, you may be able to vary when those instalments are due or the amount that is payable in each instalment.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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      1. If your order provides that you must sell or transfer assets by a certain date, the dates within that order may be varied (this is particularly relevant to those affected by the current standstill of the housing market).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        If you do wish to vary your order, discuss it with your ex-spouse first: can you agree to a temporary reduction in maintenance payments; or, are you willing to allow a lump sum payment to be deferred for a set amount of time?<\/p>\n

        Almost everybody has been affected in some way by Covid-19, and you may find that your ex-spouse is understanding, as long as you are reasonable in your approach.<\/p>\n

        Try mediating<\/h2>\n

        If you cannot agree to a variation, you should try mediating with your ex-spouse.<\/p>\n

        The courts are, understandably, overwhelmed at present and you may find that by engaging in mediation you are able to reach an agreement far quicker (and more cost-effectively) than if you were to issue court proceedings.<\/p>\n

        If you wish to completely reopen your financial settlement because the Covid-19 pandemic has had such an impact on your financial circumstances that you consider your financial settlement no longer reasonable and\/or affordable, you will need to satisfy the court that the Covid-19 pandemic is a \u2018Barder\u2019 event.<\/p>\n

        This is a subsequent event, unforeseen and unforeseeable at the time the order was made, which invalidates the basis on which the order was made.<\/p>\n

        Most attempts made to set aside orders on a Barder basis do not succeed (for example following the financial crisis of 2007-2008); whether Covid-19 will be considered as such an event will require a test case to come before the family courts.<\/p>\n

        Everybody has different circumstances and there is no \u2018one size fits all\u2019 approach to varying, or seeking to set aside entirely, a financial order.<\/p>\n

        If you are concerned about the potential effect of Covid-19 on your ability to comply with your financial order, you should speak to your ex-spouse in the first instance, keeping an open mind, so that you can try and negotiate through the uncertainty together.<\/p>\n

        Also, seek legal advice to consider what options may be applicable to your particular circumstances to help inform your discussions.<\/p>\n

        Share this story <\/p>\n

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