News and Insights

As Jersey ends all its remaining measures that were put in place during the Covid pandemic, questions are arising as to what are the long-term effects of Covid-19 in Jersey? Sadly, many of these effects may well not come to light for many months or even years. We already hear about those who are still suffering from Long Covid and increasingly it appears that by missing school many children have been impacted both educationally and emotionally perhaps for years to come.

What is becoming increasingly clear in the world of family law is that there is both a growing number of couples seeking legal advice regarding relationship breakdown and couples who had already separated prior to Covid now having difficulties with their financial and child arrangements. Much of this increase can be traced back to the pandemic as well as the current cost of living crisis. There is no doubt that the Family Court is becoming busier and the place of charities such as Centrepoint and James’ Ark are more and more crucial.

The combination of Covid and living costs going higher and higher means that many in the Island are feeling both worn out and fragile emotionally as well as psychologically. Many family law clients are saying that they feel they just survived Covid as a couple, but now financial pressures have broken their ability to function and are looking to end their relationship.

The pandemic also seems to have lessened the ability of separated parents to cope with the arrangements for their children that may have been in place prior to Covid. It is difficult to say why this is but it is clear that many shared residence and contact arrangements for children broke down during the period of lockdown in particular and those parents often need help getting arrangements back on track.

Post Covid-19 many of us are perhaps less tolerant or understanding of others and combined with growing financial pressures our coping mechanisms are creaking. At Viberts our specialist and empathic Family Law Team will do all we can to help whether it be with relationship breakdown or your arrangements for your children.