The UK is still yet to see the full extent the impact a year of lockdown has had on people’s relationships – according to an expert divorce lawyer at law firm Nelsons.
With couples couped up in lockdown due to the coronavirus, many law firms across the UK have reported an increase in enquiries from spouses wanting to split from their partners.
Emma Davies, partner and divorce solicitor at Nelsons, said that while law firm has experienced continually high levels of enquiries since April 2020, the divorce spike may yet be still to come.
Emma said: “We’re still yet to experience the full impact a year of lockdown has had on people’s relationships. No one anticipated the pandemic would last as long as it has. Every time restrictions have eased, some sort of tightening of the rules followed. Once the Covid restrictions are significantly and permanently eased, if they do happen in the summer as expected, I imagine we’ll experience another busy season – people will begin making longer-term decisions once more, which includes divorce.”
Has the pandemic caused a spike in people filing for divorce?
“Divorce rates over the course of 2020 increased and we experienced busy periods throughout the year. While we have been consistently busy, I wonder whether we are yet to see the true spike everyone was anticipating at the start of the pandemic. What is interesting is that we have seen different trends compared to a typical year.
“For example, from summer to the end of the year was busier than normal because restrictions eased. January is usually our busiest period but this year, while we still had a number of enquiries, it wasn’t perhaps at the level we would have expected to see. Schools closed and the country went back into a lockdown so there was a lot for people to deal with before taking action on any longer-term decisions they may have been thinking about before the Christmas period.
“During the first, full lockdown back in March 2020, we were quieter, mostly because it was really difficult for people to find a private space to speak to a divorce lawyer while working from home with their spouse. We had clients calling us from supermarket car parks, or the end of the garden – having a conversation about divorce when there’s the possibility of being overheard in the other room made it difficult. However, as lockdown restrictions eased towards the end of the spring, we noticed a high level of enquiries.”
Have the reasons as to why people have been filing for divorce changed over the past year?
“There hasn’t been a massive shift, but we have had clients who said the initial lockdown made them realise what it would be like to be retired together, and that spending that amount of time in close proximity was very difficult. Tensions ran high and people found themselves in the house all the time with their spouse, without the social release they could turn to beforehand.”
How have divorce proceedings changed as a result of the pandemic?
“From March 2020 through to the summer, there were huge delays, with some divorces taking 50 weeks at one stage. However, now everything has settled and more have access to the online system, the divorce process is much quicker. We have experienced divorces taking three to four months for the first time in many years where there are limited financial matters to be resolved or separating couples have reached an agreement, in one case, with the Christmas break intervening.
“Financial and children matters are mostly conducted remotely, either over the phone or via a video call; some are still carried out in person, particularly final hearings if evidence is required as the quality is better face to face. This is definitely more efficient and streamlined – you don’t have to travel to court and whereas previously, there would be a block list of several hearings from 10am, now you’re given a time for your remote hearing.”
With the negative impact Covid-19 has had on the economy, is now a good time to get divorced?
“Many people may have found themselves in a financially less advantageous position as a result of the pandemic – they may have been placed on furlough, for example, or their businesses could have suffered. However, the court is really mindful of people’s circumstances and the financial impact of the pandemic; every case is different and turns on its own individual facts, so it’s important to seek advice tailored to you.”
