Different times of the year are known for specific behaviors that tend to occur in patterns year after year. One of the times of the year that is always known to be a stressful time is the month of January, with visits to a divorce attorney spiking rapidly at this time.
This month comes right after the holidays, so it is a bit of a letdown after all the celebration, family togetherness, and general well-being of the holidays. January is also the time that bills suddenly start showing up in the mail, and this can add pressure to already stressed marriages.
According to the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, the number of divorce filings in January is one-third more than filed in other months. Google also reports a surge in the search for divorce as a keyword in January, with the peak occurring between January 6th and 12th.
Why People Divorce in January
One of the things that any divorce attorney can tell you is that January is seen as a time to start over with a new, fresh beginning. Moving out of a relationship that may be seen as stagnant, over, unproductive, or simply causing stress and unhappiness is a common factor.
The other factor is the December issue. Many couples, including those with children, do not want to go through the holidays with kids and also go through a divorce or separation. They make the decision to stay together over the holidays and try to avoid any disruption of the season for the family. Then, once the year is over, there are lower expectations, and it is a more natural time to separate. It also eliminates conflict and problems with establishing parenting time for both parents over the holiday season, something that can be very emotional in the first year of the divorce.
There are also those who plan ahead and talk to their divorce attorney about the best time for asset protection and taxes to divorce. January is typically recommended for these reasons, so couples may choose to make this their time to separate for their own financial interests.
Talk to a divorce attorney at Orsinger, Nelson, Downing & Anderson, LLP if you are considering a separation or divorce.
