Divorce in the Era of Covid-19

May 08, 2020

By van der Veen, Hartshorn & Levin

If you are going through a divorce, planning on getting a divorce, or thinking about getting a divorce, it is not impossible to do so even during the Covid-19 pandemic. You may not even want to wait to file for a divorce, depending on your individual circumstances. In the short term, however, the manner in which a divorce case can proceed has been impacted to some degree.

In many counties with electronic filing, it is still possible to start a divorce case by filing a Complaint in Divorce. Uncontested divorces can also be finalized depending on the emergency procedures adopted by each individual Court. In general, you can easily begin the divorce process now so that by the time this pandemic has passed, your case will be best positioned for obtaining a final resolution without incurring further delays.

However, if your case involves additional claims such as child support, spousal support, child custody or domestic violence, immediate relief is generally not available unless there is a genuine emergency which requires prompt intervention by the Court. Many counties, including Philadelphia, have adopted procedures to address such emergency matters. It is best to consult and retain an attorney to help navigate these procedures and seek emergency relief on your behalf in a prompt, through and expeditious fashion given the circumstances you are facing.

If you have a specific issue you need to have addressed, the family law attorneys at van der Veen, Hartshorn & Levin are ready and available to discuss your concerns and the potential options for addressing them, especially in light of the specific emergency orders in effect for your county of residence. These emergency orders have frequently changed throughout this pandemic so it is always best to consult an experienced attorney to guide you through the process. Please do not hesitate to contact the family law attorneys at van der Veen, Hartshorn & Levin today.