January: The Month of Divorce – Why So Many Couples Are Calling It Quits

January is typically seen as the time to start new things or to make big life changes. People commit to drinking less, exercising more, or saving money. Others go further and decide to end their marriages at the beginning of the year. In fact, January has long been considered to be the month of divorce.

However, is January the month when most divorces occur? Some figures cast doubt on this assertion. But whether most divorces occur in this month or not may be irrelevant to the fact that January may very well be the month of divorce.

Why January Is Considered a Divorce Month

January is considered to be a divorce month largely because it is the beginning of a new year. And for couples facing problems, the desire to leave a troubled life behind them leads them to choose the beginning of the year to take action.

It should be noted that divorce conversations in January are not spur-of-the-moment decisions. In fact, most couples, or at least one partner of most couples, contemplate divorce for some time before January hits.

The reason unhappy spouses do not act on their desire to divorce until January is due to the holiday season. The disruption that occurs during a divorce is likely to ruin the holiday spirit and lead to negative memories for the spouses, their children, and close friends and family. So instead of tearing down the holiday season, spouses tend to wait until the beginning of the year hits to get serious about divorcing.

When Most Divorces Occur in Florida

Although the first month of the year may be known as “January: the month of divorce”, this does not mean most divorces occur in January. According to the numbers, divorce filings and resolutions do not peak in January but a few months later in March.

So why is January nicknamed “January: the month of divorce” if it is not the month that sees the most divorces? The reason is that troubled couples begin their divorce plans in this month, which includes taking various steps before a divorce can even be filed. These steps include:

• Finding and meeting with a divorce attorney;
• Making plans for the children;
• Saving money;
• Sorting out new living situations.

In other words, the flurry of activity that precedes a divorce filing typically occurs in January, resulting in January being named divorce month.

What to Do If You Are Considering A January Divorce

If you and your spouse are headed for a divorce and have waited for the holidays to pass, you have likely saved yourself and your family much stress and heartache. Now that the holidays have largely passed, and you are ready to take action, you will want to take steps that will help ensure that your divorce goes as smoothly as possible.

First and foremost, you should be sure that divorce is the right path. If it is, then you should find a divorce attorney as soon as possible. They will provide the legal insight and guidance you need to make appropriate decisions and future plans.

Once you have representation, you will have peace of mind that you are making reasonable choices. Call The Florida Probate and Family Law Firm for help so they can explain the process and give you the advice you need today.