The court system is operating on a very limited basis because of the coronavirus, and one attorney says "pandemic clauses" will be the new norm in future custody agreements.

Stamford divorce attorney Eric Higgins says divorcing couples and even those with existing agreements are facing all kinds of issues during COVID-19.

Among them, the parenting schedule, the risk to children when one parent could be dealing with the virus and even modification of child support.

Higgins says Tuesday night Gov. Ned Lamont signed an executive order to allow people to get divorced just based on a written agreement.

He says divorced parents are going to need to find a way, even through mediation, to work things out.

Higgins says he has no idea when the courts might get back to some semblance of normalcy.

He says in most new divorce cases, a judge can simply review signed off agreements.

Courts are only hearing what's considered "priority one," including emergency domestic violence.

State court officials say recent orders issued by Gov. Lamont make it easier for many domestic cases to be handled online.