Welcome To The Era of “Divorce by Zoom”

As we begin to inch back towards normalcy here Sonoma County, the legal system has only just begun to recover and adapt to the complications posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. In order to keep the public and court personnel as safe as possible, civil and family courts have had to make some rather radical adjustments.

What this means in practice is that, for the foreseeable future, all civil and family law proceedings (including divorce) are being conducted remotely via teleconference. So, if you haven’t already downloaded the now-ubiquitous Zoom video conferencing software, you might as well go ahead and get that set up now.
 

Divorce by Zoom? Really?

Yes, really. Right now all phases of the divorce process, including court proceedings, are being handled remotely. To learn more about how this will impact your particular case, contact your attorney.

For those who may have postponed filing for divorce due to the pandemic and are waiting for things to “go back to normal”, there is no indication that in-person court proceedings will resume anytime soon here in Sonoma County. Our best suggestion at the moment is to contact your attorney and begin the divorce process.

Will This Impact The Outcome Of My Divorce?

In the vast majority of divorce cases, we don’t anticipate the restriction of in-person court proceedings to have a meaningful impact on the outcome. Proceedings that would normally take place in a courtroom are now being conducted via video conferencing software, with the judge, attorneys, and any other required parties attending remotely.

If you are unable to attend a video conference, speak with your attorney ahead of time to see if alternate arrangements can be made. Also keep in mind that, in many cases, your attorney is capable of handling all the required legal proceedings without needing your direct involvement.
 

What Else Do I Need To Know?

Even under the best circumstances, the divorce process is often a slow one. Now, with all the additional complications of the pandemic and the reduced efficiency of the court system, your case may take a bit longer to complete. As difficult as it may be, being patient during these unexpected times will pay dividends down the road.

Additionally, resist the temptation to communicate about your divorce online or via social media. Talking about your case, your ex, or any other aspect of your divorce in a public forum can have a dramatic (and usually negative) impact on the outcome.

If you have additional questions, or have not yet selected an attorney to represent you and would like a free phone consultation, please contact our office today.