Divorce is not the taboo it was in decades past, but for many couples, there are factors that delay filing. If you have decided that separation is the best option for you and your spouse, timing is still an important consideration. You may want to wait until it is convenient for everybody involved, and for many people, that time happens to be at the beginning of a new year in the month of January.
According to the Huffington Post, more couples file for divorce in January than any other month of the year. There are many reasons for this phenomenon, but the following three are some of the most common. If any of these apply to you, you might consider your plans for divorce, too.
1. Wait until after holidays
Many couples, especially those with children, do not want to divorce immediately before or during the holidays. This makes sense — Thanksgiving and Christmas are sentimental, and it can be seriously disruptive to go through a divorce at this time. It is typically much easier to wait until the holidays are over and file for divorce in January.
2. Stress from holidays
Perhaps you did not feel motivated to file for divorce prior to the holiday season, but the stress of the end of the year has motivated you to consider it. Many events that take place during the holidays put additional stress on a marriage and reveal unsavory traits in a spouse. In such circumstances, January might mark the opportunity to move on from your marriage.
3. Start a new year with a new life
For other couples, filing in January has little to do with the timing of the holidays at all. Rather, it may be a reflection of the optimism of the new year. Many people resolve to make major life changes at the beginning of a new year, and divorce is indeed a drastic shift. If you want to start 2018 fresh, filing for divorce may be the next step.
