It’s a new year, and for family law attorneys, it means that they will see a uptick in new business. A research firm, known as Family Studies, recently published information pertaining to divorce trends throughout the year. December is the slowest month for new divorces, and January is the highest.
It’s pretty easy to deduce the reason why. No one wants to ruin the holiday season with a divorce. At the same time, the stress of being with family during the holidays could be enough to encourage many otherwise happy couples to divorce. The holidays can be like an emotional powder keg thanks to extended family visits and budget issues, and once January comes around, reality starts to sink in.
There’s also the fact that Valentine’s Day is right around the corner. If things aren’t going well in January, most couples don’t want to try and force their way through a Valentine’s Day that doesn’t feel romantic or loving.
However, just because the divorce season starts in January doesn’t mean that spouses aren’t thinking about it in December. Many divorce lawyers receive calls from spouses considering divorce, but person will say that they want to wait until after the holidays to begin the process.
On a more positive note, the divorce rate is declining in Michigan, and that means newly single spouses could have better luck in their next marriage, should they decide to tie the knot again. The divorce rate was 4.3 out of every 1,000 people in 1990 and now that figure is down to 2.9 percent for 2016.
Are you considering a divorce? It doesn’t matter when you decide to file. What matters is that you get out of a dead-end marriage before more time passes. Just as importantly, be sure to divorce in a way that honors your legal rights.
Source: WNEM, “Research: Divorces tend to spike in January,” Jonathan Jackson, Jan. 02, 2018
