SC sees high divorce inquiries in US since start of COVID pandemic. Here’s where it ranks

Patrick McCreless

More people have been interested in divorce in South Carolina, relative to population, than in most other states since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, a new study shows.

South Carolina ranks 20th among states for most online searches for ‘divorce lawyers’ relative to population size, according to a study from DivorceAnswers.com, a website that provides legal information about divorce in every state.

“Spending more time together, having more time in general and having limited opportunities to leave the house may have resulted in some discovering their partner’s hidden traits, such as extra-marital affairs or dishonest behavior,” said Lauren Cook-McKay from DivorceAnswers.com.

The study shows that South Carolina residents have made 92,160 online searches for ‘divorce lawyers’ since March 2020 — an amount that represents 2.3% of the state’s adult population.

New Jersey took the top rank, with 238,560 online inquires, which is around 3.4% of its approximately 6.9 million population.

Alaska had the seemingly fewest number of unhappy couples, with 5,040 online searches.

Besides being forced to spend more time inside together, other potential reasons for marital stress during the pandemic include:

  • Differences over childcare and or homeschooling

  • Financial stress because of job shifts

  • Arguments over masks, vaccinations and social distancing

Below is the ranking of all states based on their number of online searches for ‘divorce lawyers’ relative to population during the pandemic.

  1. New Jersey: 238,560 | 3.4% of population

  2. New York: 494,400 | 3.3% of population

  3. Tennessee: 173,280 | 3.3% of population

  4. Georgia: 256,800 | 3.1% of population

  5. Virginia: 206,400 | 3.1% of population

  6. Arizona: 167,760 | 3% of population

  7. Illinois: 288,000 | 2.9% of population

  8. Nevada: 68,880 | 2.9% of population

  9. Rhode Island: 825,242 | 2.8% of population

  10. Florida: 468,000 | 2.8% of population

  11. North Carolina: 225,600 | 2.8% of population

  12. Wisconsin: 120,000 | 2.6% of population

  13. Alabama: 100,800 | 2.6% of population

  14. Michigan: 203,040 | 2.6% of population

  15. Pennsylvania: 259,200 | 2.6% of population

  16. Texas: 578,400 | 2.6% of population

  17. Ohio: 232,800 | 2.6% of population

  18. Mississippi: 58,800 | 2.5% of population

  19. Missouri: 112,800 | 2.4% of population

  20. South Carolina: 92,160 | 2.3% of population

  21. Arkansas: 53,520 | 2.3% of population

  22. Kansas: 51,120 | 2.3% of population

  23. Kentucky: 75,600 | 2.2% of population

  24. Washington: 126,720 | 2.1% of population

  25. Connecticut: 58,560 | 2.1% of population

  26. Colorado: 93,360 | 2.1% of population

  27. Indiana: 108,240 | 2.1% of population

  28. Massachusetts: 109,920 | 2% of population

  29. New Hampshire: 21,120 | 2% of population

  30. Oregon: 62,640 | 1.9% of population

  31. Delaware: 14,160 | 1.9% of population

  32. Maryland: 86,400 | 1.8% of population

  33. Louisiana: 66,240 | 1.8% of population

  34. Utah: 45,600 | 1.8% of population

  35. California: 544,800 | 1.8% of population

  36. Minnesota: 77,280 | 1.8% of population

  37. Iowa: 39,840 | 1.6% of population

  38. West Virginia: 22,560 | 1.6% of population

  39. Oklahoma: 48,720 | 1.6% of population

  40. Idaho: 20,160 | 1.4% of population

  41. Vermont: 6,960 | 1.4% of population

  42. New Mexico: 21,120 | 1.3% of population

  43. Wyoming: 5,760 | 1.3% of population

  44. Nebraska: 19,200 | 1.3% of population

  45. North Dakota: 7,200 | 12% of population

  46. Maine: 12,240 | 1.2% of population

  47. Hawaii: 10,800 | 1% of population

  48. South Dakota: 6,240 | 0.9% of population

  49. Montana: 7,440 | 0.9% of population

  50. Alaska: 5,040 | 0.9% of population

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