As family law attorneys, we notice a peculiar trend in our offices every year—January being a very popular month for divorce filings in the United States.
There are many reasons this is true, and while it may seem shocking, after understanding the reasons behind this phenomenon, it becomes easier to comprehend it.
Evaluating relationships during the holidays
The holiday season can act as a magnifying glass for married couples who are reflecting on the state of their lives and relationships in general.
When the time comes to evaluate their marriages, many married individuals realize they have not been happy for a very long time and decide it is time to part ways.
Fresh-start mentality
January serves as a symbol for new beginnings and fresh starts. Gyms are often full; people make resolutions and goals for the new year and the same is true for married couples.
In many cases, spouses may view the new year as an opportunity to break free from an unhappy marriage and embrace a new chapter in their lives.
Post-holiday financial realizations
Most married couples in the United States live paycheck-to-paycheck. Holiday expenses can strain finances and lead to heightened financial stress.
January, with its year-end financial assessments, may reveal the true cause for why these married couples are financially strained; it may shed light on the couple’s shopping habits, financial philosophies and goals, resulting in the decision to divorce.
Maintaining normalcy during the holidays
Married couples who are on the verge of divorce often wait until after the holidays to break the news and file for divorce.
These married individuals do not want to spoil the holiday joy for their families and many of them do not want to be the reason for ruining such a merry time, especially if they have children.
Once the decorations come down and reality sets in, they may decide to move forward with divorce proceedings.
The unique patterns surrounding January divorce filings may seem strange. In reality, however, it can make sense given the facts that January is often a month when most people reflect on their lives and decide about their future and what they want their future to look like by the time the next holiday comes around.