The United States government has been shut down for over two weeks as Republicans and Democrats battle over funding for a wall on the US-Mexico border. President Trump has stated that he will not reopen the government until Congress approves $5 billion dollars to begin construction on the border-wall.
While the impact of the shutdown has generally centered around federal employees, there is a large group of other citizens facing serious concerns. Americans planning to get married or divorced are now questioning how the government shut down will affect their upcoming activities.
Delayed Marriages in Washington D.C.
If you have an upcoming wedding, you will likely be all set to walk down the aisle. That is, unless you are planning to get married in Washington D.C.
Residents getting married in California during the government shutdown will not notice anything out of the ordinary. However, because courts in Washington D.C. receive federal funding, residents will have to wait out the government shutdown if they are planning to obtain a marriage license.
Slower Divorce Proceedings
While divorce proceedings are still taking place– even in Washington D.C.– during the government shutdown, the process might be much slower. Most divorce cases require parties to provide financial documents that are generally attained through the IRS. Because the many employees at the IRS are on leave during the shutdown, this process could take much longer than normal.
Similarly, the shutdown might affect a divorce if one of the spouses is a federal employee. Without receiving paychecks, a federal employee might have trouble paying spousal maintenance or child support.
Divorces can already be an extremely complicated process. If you are considering a divorce and are unsure how the shutdown might affect your case, consult with an experienced family law attorney to discuss your next steps.