Divorcing During the Pandemic? Here’s How To Safely (and Cheaply) Break It Off

Saying “I do” has always been something of a gamble, with nearly 50% of all marriages in the U.S. ending in divorce or separation. But throw in a global pandemic that turns the world upside down and sends everyone into lockdown, and the odds of staying together suddenly get a lot worse.

Read: 40 Money Secrets Only Divorce Attorneys Know

In fact, divorce filings in the U.S have spiked since COVID-19 struck. A new survey from LegalTemplates showed that divorce agreements made between April and June increased 34% in sales compared to the same time period in 2019. Additionally, divorce-related keyword internet searches are up by 11%, reported data analytics company SEMrush. 

Divorce costs and protocol largely depend on your state, but you can expect to shell out at least a few thousand bucks — and possibly quite a bit more. The shocking price tag is darkly ironic considering that one of the biggest drivers of divorce during quarantine is unemployment and financial strain, the LegalTemplates survey revealed. 

While divorce is seldom easy and never free — and going through it during a pandemic brings some added complications — there are ways to end your marriage safely and relatively cheaply.

Here’s a 15-step guide to divorcing on a budget.