January is the beginning of a new year. For many people, January is a time of self-reflection and improvement. They start new diets or exercise regimens. They develop professional goals and start working to improve their careers.
For some spouses, a fresh start may require a major change. They may decide that they want to end a marriage that has proven to be unhealthy or unsatisfying. Some people refer to January as divorce month, which can be confusing to some.
Why do many professionals in the family law sector view January as a time when divorce dominates legal discussions?
1. The holidays can trigger conflict
For many people, the holidays represent an opportunity to express dedication to the family or gratitude for a year of unpaid services in the home. When their spouses disappoint their expectations by forgetting to buy them gifts or leaving all the planning to them once again, they may decide that they are done with the marriage.
Traveling, gift-giving, family get-togethers and disappointed expectations can all contribute to people strongly considering divorce after Christmas and New Year’s Day pass. For others, especially those with children, the decision to divorce may have come earlier in the prior year. However, they may have chosen to wait until after the holidays to avoid disrupting the celebratory season for their children.
2. Consultations surge in January
Calling January divorce month doesn’t accurately represent the situation. There isn’t a sudden uptake in divorce filings or the courts finalizing divorces in January. Instead, many family law attorneys schedule initial consultations with spouses in January and early February.
The actual divorce process typically takes months. Sometimes it may take more than a year. Researchers may point to the delay between those initial consultations and the finalization of divorce as a reason that January isn’t actually divorce month. Regardless of when the marriage actually ends or what month one spouse finally files for divorce, January may be when people decide to take that step or to speak with an attorney about their options.
Those contemplating divorce may need help understanding the law and preparing for what can be a very complicated process. Scheduling an appointment with a family law attorney can help people pursue a better future after the end of a frustrating or dysfunctional marriage.