Blogs from February, 2021

In previous blogs, we've explored how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted people in different ways. At the beginning of the pandemic, statistics indicated that COVID-19 could spark a wave of divorces across the U.S., leading to an increased divorce rate, but more recent information seems to combat that narrative.

Today, we're taking a look at whether the U.S. divorce rate is really rising in the wake of COVID-19 and, if so, why.

To receive experienced legal counsel for your divorce case, contact us online or via phone at (757) 267-4949">(757) 267-4949.

Why Did People Predict that COVID-19 Could Lead to an Increased Divorce Rate?

Initially, statistics from China where the COVID-19 pandemic began indicated a sharp rise in the divorce rate there. For example, in the province of Miluo, staff in government offices were so overwhelmed by the number of divorce filings that they apparently didn't even have time for water breaks. Another city, Xi'an, also reported record numbers of divorce filings.

Divorce and family law professionals hypothesized two reasons for the dramatic increase:

1. Government offices in most Chinese cities closed for at least a month at the outset of the pandemic. As a result, staff were hit with a month's worth of backlog when offices reopened, so what may appear to be a doubling divorce rate could just be a month's worth of divorce paperwork all being processed at once.
2. According to some experts and sociologists, an increased divorce rate could also be explained by couples staying cooped up together at home for extended periods. Being unable to spend time with friends consistently or away from a romantic partner could exacerbate tensions within a relationship and lead to its eventual decline.

Initially, it appeared as though predictions that COVID-19 could increase the divorce rate in the U.S. and other western countries were correct.

Legal form website LegalTemplates reported a 57% increase in interest surrounding the term "legal separation" from February to April of 2020. Additionally, the business reported a 34% increase in sales of divorce agreements during early 2020 compared to the same time period in 2019.

So, Did the U.S. Divorce Rate Increase Throughout 2020?

Contrary to initial assumptions, it appears as though the divorce rate may be down throughout 2020 in the U.S. Sociologist W. Bradford Wilcox (University of Virginia, Institute for Family Studies) and research fellow Lyman Stone (Institute for Family Studies) recently took a deep dive into the U.S. divorce rate throughout 2020 and the pandemic.

The researchers noted the American Family Survey, which found that 34% of married individuals 18-55 reported increased stress in their marriage, as informing the study. However, increased marital stress isn't the only narrative here - the AFS also found that 58% of individuals in the same demographic reported that their appreciation for their spouses increased over the pandemic.

Wilcox and Stone analyzed divorce rates across five states, and their findings were surprising. According to their research, the divorce rate in Florida, Rhode Island, Oregon, and Missouri fell by 19%, 13%, 12%, and 9%, respectively year-over-year from 2019 to 2020. Arizona was the only state the researchers found had an upswing in divorce, with the divorce rate increasing by 9% year-over-year.

The researchers also noted that the divorce rate fell significantly during the Great Recession, decreasing by 20% shortly after the Recession. The COVID-19 pandemic was also a major source of economic instability in the U.S. - tens of millions of Americans have filed for unemployment over the last year. A decrease in the divorce rate over 2020 would mirror the precedent already set by the Great Recession.

However, it will be interesting to see divorce statistics for January and February of 2021. The beginning of the year is often the most popular time to file for divorce, and many people who have held off on filing for divorce over the past year may choose to do so throughout 2021.

At The Law Offices of Daniel J. Miller, we help Virginians navigate the divorce process. To schedule a consultation with our team, contact us online or via phone at (757) 267-4949">(757) 267-4949.

If you don't use your phone while driving, you may be in the minority. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, over 220 million Americans have wireless phone plans, and as many as 80% of those individuals use their phones while driving.

To combat the use of phones while driving, Virginia recently passed a law that makes any cellphone use while driving illegal. Today, we're exploring phone use while driving and how this new law may change your life.

To schedule a consultation with our team, contact us online or via phone at (757) 267-4949">(757) 267-4949.

How Dangerous Is Phone Use While Driving?

According to the United States Department of Transportation (NHTSA), distracted driving killed almost 2,900 Americans in 2018 alone.

The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia found that using a cell phone behind the wheel "reduces the amount of brain activity associated with driving by 37%." Additionally, drivers who text while driving may be more likely to disregard certain safety measures, such as using a seatbelt or drinking while driving.

Generally, cell phone use while driving poses a significant danger to drivers and those around them, such as pedestrians and cyclists.

What's This New Law All About?

The new law, which went into effect starting January 1st, made all cell phone use while driving illegal. That's a significant change from previous cell phone use laws in Virginia, which only banned reading texts or emails.

State law enforcement officers (LEOs) hope the new law will make it easier to impose penalties on individuals who use their phones while driving. Making it illegal to have your cellphone in hand at all while on the road should make driving safer.

It's useful to note that the law does not apply to individuals who drive emergency vehicles or civilians who are in the midst of reporting an emergency.

If you are parked at a stoplight or stop sign, you can also glance at your phone, but as soon as you finish your stop or the light turns green, you must put it down again. Drivers who check their phones too long at stoplights and signs could face penalties for impeding traffic. It's also important to note that drivers can still use devices that make it possible to operate a phone without touching it, such as using hands-free Bluetooth to make a phone call in the car.

If you find yourself facing penalties after using your phone while driving, we can help. The Law Offices of Daniel J. Miller works with Virginians to navigate criminal offense cases, including those related to traffic offenses such as DUI.

To schedule a consultation with our team, contact us online or via phone at (757) 267-4949">(757) 267-4949.

Unbeknownst to many, the period leading up to and around Valentine's Day is actually one of the most popular times of the year to file for divorce in the US.

If you're considering filing for divorce, understand how the process works in Virginia can help you move forward with your case. Today, we're exploring why so many people get divorced at the beginning of the year and taking a look at what you can expect if you file for divorce in Virginia.

At The Law Offices of Daniel Miller, we'll help you find an optimal path forward in your divorce.

To schedule a consultation with our team or learn more about our services, contact us online or via phone at (757) 267-4949">{F:P:Sub:Phone}.

I Resolve... to File for Divorce?

For many people, the New Year is a time of contemplation. There's a reason why making New Year's resolutions is so popular. Many people use the start of a fresh new year to reevaluate where they are in life currently and where they want to go next.

For individuals who don't feel supported in their current relationship, the impetus of a new year can be the necessary motivation to file for divorce or call it quits.

There's also the fact that most people become more cognizant of their taxes when New Year's rolls around. Individuals who want to file for taxes individually will want to finalize their divorce before tax returns are due, and being put on a deadline can give some people the push they need to finally file for divorce.

The Holidays Make Issues More Apparent

The number of issues the holidays can cause for married couples seems endless. It's not uncommon for couples to fight over:

• How, when, and where to take a vacation (if one is planned);
• Whose family to visit;
• Whether family coming to visit causes issues for either party;
• Scheduling issues if one spouse has seasonal work;
• What kinds of gifts to get (and for who);
• Activities like gift-giving (if money is tight);
• Feelings of resentment if the holidays don't turn out as planned;
• Other issues that the spouses may have ignored but now have time to discuss due to time off.

In general, the holidays are actually the most stressful time of the year for many Americans. It's little wonder, then, that the end of a potentially stressful holiday season also coincides with one of the busiest months of the year for divorce filings in the US.

Valentine's (& Other Holidays) Are Just Around the Corner

There's a reason we're writing this in February. At the beginning of the year, spouses only get a brief reprieve before other holidays, such as Valentine's Day, demand their attention.

This can create a sort of "race" to file for divorce before more holidays roll around. Nobody wants to get a divorce around or soon after Valentine's day, or near other holidays that may be important to spouses (like Mother's Day and Father's Day).

This can create a sense that the only time to really file for divorce is "now," so to speak. Many spouses follow through on that instinct, choosing to file for divorce during January or the beginning of February.

At The Law Offices of Daniel J. Miller, we'll work with you to understand all the details of your divorce and help you find the best path forward in your case.

To schedule a consultation with our team, contact us online or via phone at (757) 267-4949">(757) 267-4949.