What earned January the nickname of ‘divorce month?’

For many people, January is a slow month of recovery after the frantic energy and excessive spending of the holidays. For others, January is the month when they begin laying the foundation for a drastically different life.

Once the chaos of the holidays subsides, married individuals may begin the process of planning for divorce. Typically, that process begins with a consultation with a divorce attorney. Many lawyers who practice family law report a noticeable increase in the number of initial inquiries and preliminary consultations in January. This has led to some people calling January “divorce month.”

What causes increased interest in divorce at the beginning of the year?

Post-holiday blues
After years of an unsatisfying or downright unhealthy marriage, a frustrating holiday season might be the last straw for some spouses. They may decide that they no longer want to stay married.

The reality of their rising credit card balances and underwhelming holiday celebrations may leave them ready for a new beginning. People thinking about what might make them happier in the New Year sometimes realize that leaving their marriage could have a long-term positive impact on their overall satisfaction with life.

Protecting the children
Many people don’t want to think about divorce until after the holidays end. They may have actually been putting off the matter for months. They may want to give their children one last holiday together with everyone together as a family. They may also want to give their spouses an opportunity to show that the marriage is worth saving.

Although some experts challenge the idea that January is divorce month, the increased interest in divorce is hard to ignore. Some people cite other trends in divorce filings and court hearings that show increased volume in other months as proof that January isn’t really “divorce month.” While it is true that January does not see a significantly higher number of initial divorce filings or divorce finalizations, many people start actively working toward divorce after the beginning of the year.

Married people who are unhappy in their marriages may find the new year a reason to take action. Scheduling an initial divorce consultation with a family law attorney can help people pursue a happier life after trying to make an unhealthy and/or unhappy marriage work.

Vernier & Associates, PLLC

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