How COVID Affected Florida Couples
The COVID pandemic was a rough time for many married couples. The pandemic created a lot of stress in terms of school closures, job losses, and lack of travel. Lots of businesses shut down. Many people were stuck in their homes, unable to engage in their favorite activities.
Disagreements over the COVID vaccine and not being able to see relatives caused immense strain and tension in many households. Everybody was on edge, and couples were fighting over every little thing. This was especially true when companies were forcing employees to work from home. Now couples were spending 24/7 together. This was not a good thing.
Fortunately, the COVID pandemic didn’t last forever. Eventually, many businesses began to reopen, allowing couples to spend time away from each other, outside of the home.
Typically, people do things outside of the home and have outlets, but COVID put a pause on that. While some marriages made it through these tough times, many did not.
If a marriage was barely surviving, COVID put an extra strain on it. On top of that, many people dealt with sick friends and family members. Many had to deal with death in some cases. It was hard for people to cope.
So did divorce rates increase during COVID? A review of divorce cases filed in Brevard County in the years before and after COVID showed that the numbers remained fairly steady. There were some minor increases but nothing drastic.
Here’s a look at eight years of divorce filings:
- 2017: 2,062
- 2018: 2,182
- 2019: 2,060
- 2020: 2,021
- 2021: 2,088
- 2022: 1,954
- 2023: 1,933
- 2024: 1,887
The COVID pandemic was hard on many couples. It forced them to confront long-standing problems with no escape or personal space, leading to increased conflict, emotional distance, or even domestic abuse in severe cases.
Surprisingly, divorce rates dropped in 2020, but not necessarily because couples were happier. Court shutdowns, legal delays, and financial uncertainty made it difficult for couples to move forward with separation. As a result, the decline in divorces was more of a temporary pause than a trend.
By late 2021 and into 2022, there was a spike in divorce filings in many parts of the United States. This came at a time when legal offices reopened and people began reassessing their lives in the wake of the crisis. The pandemic also prompted many people to rethink their priorities, and this led to the “Great Resignation” in careers and a similar trend in personal relationships.
Conversely, some couples grew closer. Increased time together gave some partners a chance to reconnect, communicate better, and support each other through hardship.
Seek Legal Help
Pandemics and other widespread disasters can take its toll on a marriage. While many couples did divorce during COVID, many stayed together and got through their problems.
But many marriages do have chronic problems that never get better. Does this describe your marriage? If so, contact Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyer Edward J. Jennings, P.A. We will work hard to handle all your divorce issues. To schedule a consultation, call 954-764-4330 or fill out the online form.
Source:
floridatoday.com/story/news/local/2025/03/13/did-brevard-divorce-rates-go-up-following-covid-look-at-numbers/79100546007/
