Welcome to 2017, and after the party confetti is cleaned up off the ground and the empty bottles thrown away, welcome to divorce season too. Every January is when the most divorces are filed each year. In fact, a spokesperson for the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers claims that he sees approximately 25 to 30 percent more divorces in January every year like clockwork.
Why does this happen? Why is January the time that so many couples call it quits? Some say that the financial and emotional stresses of the holidays can take their toll. Also, New Years’ resolutions to better one’s life may come into play. Not to mention the impending doom of Valentine’s Day, which is just around the corner. Valentine’s is one of the most difficult holidays to navigate when you are certain that your marriage and relationship is ruined and there’s no more love in it.
All that said, spouses should try to avoid filing for divorce out of anger. That means that if you are considering a divorce, you may want to ensure that you give yourself enough time to “cool off” and come back to center — no matter what has happened in your marriage. Decisions out of anger are usually dangerous. Meanwhile, decisions that are sound and logical are more likely to be correct, even if they are boring and not much fun.
You should also avoid involving your children in any kind of divorce decisions. They should be completely removed from the process and only involved from the standpoint of communicating with them what is going on, and that you will always continue to love them.
Are you considering a divorce this “divorce season?” Maybe it’s time to talk to a Tennessee divorce lawyer about the process. Even if you’re not sure whether you’re going to file or not, it can be very helpful to get a better understanding of what the divorce process may be like for you.
Source: Marketwatch, “Divorce lawyers: 30% more couples terminate their marriage after the holidays,” Dec. 29, 2016