The New Year can usher in life changes, and for some couples in Orange County, California, that could mean the end of their marriage. It is interesting to note that although January is not really considered the time that most couples file for dissolving their marital ties, it is now considered the “Divorce Month”.
Divorce lawyers and marital psychologists consider January the month when couples reconsider if it is worth it to stay together. Nevertheless, an analysis by Findlaw.com found that between 2008 and 2011, divorce cases started to spike in January and reached its peak in March. In fact, the site found that related search terms like “divorce,” “family law,” and “child custody” jumped by 50 percent from December to January and continued to rise through March.
There are several reasons why the uptick in divorce starts in January. For one, the process is difficult and it may seem inconsiderate to split up during or right after the holidays. Divorcing in January may also not interfere with tax filings since most of the time, couples file jointly.
Divorcing spouses often consider divorce and ask questions about it at the end of the year and the beginning of the next. Some who do, wisely choose to speak with a lawyer to discuss specific aspects, including divorce costs, property division, alimony, child support and child custody. Planning for these concerns can help each spouse settle the proceeding faster and with less emotional turmoil.
Divorce is a decision that requires a lot of preparation. Resolving divorce issues can be challenging because the process has significant emotional and financial impact on both spouses and on any children involved. Conflicts that arise between the couple during the proceedings may destroy any good intentions they had before they began the process. In order to resolve any troublesome divorce issues, it is important for the couple to seek help from family law experts.
Source: CNN, “In January, ‘ex’ marks the spot,” Sarah LeTrent, Jan. 17, 2014
