Those familiar with family law trends sometimes refer to January as divorce month. There is historically a surge of interest in divorce in January as reflected in both online searches and initial communications with family law attorneys.
While people can file for divorce at any point throughout the year, interest tends to increase noticeably at the beginning of a new calendar year. What factors drive the increased interest in divorce every January?
Holidays influence divorce matters
For some people, the stress of the holiday season makes them question whether their marriages are healthy and functional. For others, New Year’s resolutions and a desire to have a better year than the last one might leave them questioning whether their marriage helps them or decreases their overall quality of life.
Some people may have already realized that they wanted a divorce in the late fall or early winter of the previous year, but they did not want to take any steps immediately because they wanted their children to enjoy the holidays. People often delay filing until after the holidays to give the children better memories and to give themselves time to prepare for a difficult process ahead.
It is also worth noting that the winter weather itself might contribute to the desire to divorce. Seasonal affective disorder or winter depression can influence people’s satisfaction with their relationships either by changing their spouse’s behavior or pushing them into a more depressive mindset. A change from the status quo, such as moving on from a marriage that feels stagnant, can be very appealing for those feeling trapped and unhappy in the darkest days of winter.
Typically, people do not want to rush into a divorce filing, especially if they have a history of seasonal depression. Talking to a counselor or a clergy member before making any major decisions could help people obtain more clarity about the state of their marriages.
People considering divorce may want to talk with a family law attorney to learn about what divorce might entail. Reaching out to the team at The Kollin Firm can help those contemplating divorce to understand their options given their circumstances. People who have help from the earliest stages of the divorce process may have an easier time navigating this complex legal transition.