FAQ: What If My Long Distance Pandemic Marriage Ends in Divorce?
Disclaimer: This article does not constitute legal advice. If you have any questions about your individual situation it is best to seek the advice of an experienced legal professional.
Why Did People in Long Distance Relationships Get Married During the Pandemic?
People who were in long distance relationships found their ability to be together abruptly curtailed by Pandemic restrictions. Many countries, like Japan, Canada and New Zealand, closed their borders during the Pandemic. People who weren’t married enjoyed limited rights to visit their partners compared to married couples. Unmarried people even turned to activism and petitioned governments to allow visitation rights between couples. Many, however, decided to bite the bullet and get married.
What Should I Do if My Long Distance Relationship Ends in Divorce?
International divorce can be complicated. Rather than get into a fight with your divorcing spouse that could complicate matters even further you can mediate your divorce. At Divorce Options San Diego we often mediate complex international divorce and child custody matters.
How Can I Mediate International Child Custody Issues?
International child custody disputes can be complex. It’s difficult to decide which court has jurisdictions over matters, where a child should live and which parent should get custody over the child. Foreign courts may not recognize agreements made in California. That’s why it’s better to mediate international child custody issues and make an agreement in your child’s best interests that will not lead to a legal dispute. California courts always prioritize the best interests of the child. A California divorce mediation will also center the best interests of the child and help parents to come to an agreement that is legally compliant.
Parents who formerly lived together may want to relocate to their home country. Often California courts prefer that the child’s routines are not disrupted, which means they stay in their country of residence. On the other hand there are many factors that improve the child’s wellbeing, such as being close to extended family, parents pursuing career opportunities etc. At Divorce Options San Diego, we encourage a sensitive and tactical approach to these issues. Our mediations use proven approaches informed by mathematics and psychoanalysis to find solutions and reduce conflict dynamics.
How Do I Get an International Divorce?
Getting a divorce with a spouse who lives abroad is heavy on paperwork. Normally a divorce petition must be “served” in person, but if your spouse is living abroad, this isn’t possible. Depending on your spouse’s wishes, the in person requirement could be waived. Or, you may have to arrange for the official process to happen in the country where the spouse lives. Either way, when you are getting an international divorce, there are many forms and procedures you have to go through to make it happen. Since different countries have different laws, it is much easier to mediate your divorce and come to an agreement than to fight. It’s important to make a reasonable agreement that won’t be challenged later. There is a set of International Rules covering international divorce governed by the Hague treaty. A skilled California divorce mediator will be knowledgeable about these matters so that any agreements you make with your divorcing spouse will be unlikely to cause conflict.
At Divorce Options San Diego we are especially well versed in mediating international divorce between couples living in cities like San Diego who may be working for international companies or international workers on Visas. Our divorce mediation firm provides a full document service to streamline any international divorce procedure.
If I Got Married Abroad Can I Still Get a Divorce in the US?
Yes. If you meet your state’s residency requirements you can commence your divorce in the US. You should check your state’s residency requirements and discuss any issues with your divorce mediator.
I Want to Stay in My Long Distance Marriage but We Are Having Difficulty Managing the Challenges of Living Apart. What Can We Do?
You and your spouse may have decided to move to the same country to be together, or you are maintaining a long distance marriage. Marriage can often be very different from a romantic relationship. When you get married, your finances become entangled. In many cases your families become involved with each other. Even if you are still maintaining separate finances, if you get a divorce, your common finances will be considered marital property. This puts a lot of pressure on a couple who are accustomed to being independent. If you are struggling in your long distance marriage, or if you are struggling with adjusting to living together, marital mediation is a way you can manage expectations and make a clear plan for your future. Marital mediation is a goal orientated, time sensitive process, which can teach you communication and conflict resolution skills. It is both practical and emotionally attuned. If you are struggling with challenges like being apart or suddenly being together, marital mediation provides a way to deal with these changes constructively.
Our Services and How We Can Help
At Divorce Options San Diego, we are West Coast mediators and certified financial planners who offer a compassionate and practical path to getting a divorce in California. Many people getting a divorce feel overwhelmed by paperwork, emotionally drained and apprehensive that their divorce will be a battle. We reframe divorce as a collaborative process that drives towards win-win solutions.
One of the most difficult and confusing aspects of divorce is the paperwork. At Divorce Options San Diego we provide a bundle of essential services that can help streamline some of the more complex aspects of international divorce like filling all the necessary paperwork and going through the correct procedure for your individual situation. Our San Diego divorce mediators are caring, educated professionals, who offer additional services that can support your divorce such as divorce transition coaching, life coaching and interior design. We can even help people who may be relocating manage the process of moving. For long distance couples who may be sharing space for the first time, we do marital mediation that can work with principles of design and psychology.
For parents who are dealing with the difficult process of International divorce, we can assist with the forms and procedures parents have to go through to formalize international child custody agreements. We also work with children’s developmental age and can help to draft multi-phase parenting plans that reflect the changing needs of children as they grow.
If you are getting a San Diego divorce, but your divorcing spouse lives in another city, state or even country, it can be daunting. With divorce mediation, it is possible to manage the divorce in a compassionate, step by step way that can be fully compliant with California law and mindful of any potential problems that could arise with international divorce matters. We have offices in San Diego and Solana Beach. We mediate with couples in California, North America and internationally. We can mediate in person or remotely depending on your location or COVID safety demands. Please contact us to see how we can help.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2022/02/01/pandemic-marriage-separation-japan/
