Technological Changes in the Divorce Process Expected to Remain After the Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in drastic changes to the way many businesses operate, including law firms. There have been a number of new technologies attorneys have had to rely on to process cases, particularly for divorce law.

As attorneys and clients alike continue to become more accustomed to these technological changes, it is expected that many of them will remain prevalent even after life returns to at least being somewhat normal as the coronavirus pandemic fades away in the future.

Some examples of these technologies that have been relied upon during the pandemic include:

• Videoconferencing and teleconferencing: With many law firms and courts being closed except for absolutely “essential” purposes, the divorce process has been occurring virtually much more than ever before. Videoconferencing has been crucial for allowing clients to meet with their attorneys, and for hosting mediation sessions. Other important hearings are able to occur via videoconference rather than in person in the courtroom. Additionally, the Courts are conducting most conferences with attorneys via teleconference.
• E-signing: E-signing for certain court and legal documents has been a common practice for some years now, but it has significantly increased in prominence in the last few months as the pandemic has made in-person meetings unwise.
• Electronic filing: The courts have expanded the E-filing system for divorce actions in New York. Parties can now to electronically commence actions, file motions, or seek conferences. In addition, the Family Court is allowing the filing of new petitions to be filed electronically as well. This trend is expected to continue into the future.

As courts and law firms become more comfortable with these technologies, it is expected they will continue to find ways to leverage these technologies in the future to create a more flexible, higher quality client experience. By being able to work with clients remotely, attorneys will be able to serve a broader range of people.

For more information about the technological trends in divorce law and divorcing during the pandemic, contact an experienced attorney at Jakubowski, Robertson, Maffei, Goldsmith & Tartaglia LLP.