Living with Your Ex in Quarantine During a Divorce - What Not to Do

Did things finally reach the breaking point with your significant other and you decided to get a divorce. You might have been planning on moving out right before COVID-19 hit, or even being in the quarantine itself is what finally pushed you over the edge, but things have quickly changed for all us with self-isolation and quarantine becoming the new norm in the US. Experts have even said that increased divorced will be one of the outcomes of the quarantine along with increased birth rates. The decision to get a divorce will have an effect on a lot more than just being together. There are many financial and legal considerations to think about and your actions during this period - especially the actions made while quarantined together during this stressful time will affect how future divorce proceedings may go. As such we have compiled this list of what you should not being doing while living with the person you are divorcing to help guide you:

1. Avoid Getting Pregnant - Even though things may be rocky for the two of you being stuck together for such a long period of time with nothing else to do may make things hard. While you have realized you are not compatible you may still be attracted to your ex. And there isn’t much else to do while quarantined right? Once in 2004 a Washington Woman was denied a divorce because she became pregnant during the divorce proceedings and even though her husband was abusive they were worried for who would financially support the child. The ACLU later said that someone could not be denied a divorce solely on gender like this, but obviously it can be a complication in divorce proceedings.
2. Don’t Get in Unnecessary Arguments - Did your ex significant other not wash their hands for long enough? Didn’t you tell them to sing happy birthday twice? Well you might want to resist the urge to yell at them. Not only will getting in arguments not only add to the stress of being quarantined but it might make your ex more unwilling to come to agreements in later mediation. Divorces can be settled outside of courts with a third-party mediating and this is a much less ugly option most of the time. If you can control yourself in quarantine stopping yourself from these fights might benefit you in the long run.
3. Keep up Parenting Responsibilities - With the stress of COVID-19 looming and having to be quarantined with a house in your ex all day, parenting might become harder than it has to be. If anything let your child be your focus and not the quarantine or your ex. There is a large number of custody possibilities when it comes to a divorce and because as parents we love our kids most parents will fight to have custody. Both parents will again have to undergo mediation when it comes custody of their child and the actions you take during quarantine can have an effect on this later mediation. Not only that but your child might be worried themselves with school being cancelled and having to adjust to life at home.
4. Don’t Forget to Talk to a Lawyer - Divorce is a very tricky process and if you haven’t had time to speak to a skilled divorce attorney I highly recommend it. Divorce is tricky and even people on the best of terms can quickly change especially when it comes to finance, their kids, or just being stuck together during a quarantine. An attorney can help with things like pre and post-nuptial agreements, when mediation over court is right, and threats or domestic violence