Summer means the kids are out of school and vacations are planned and taken. It can also be a time of added stress on a marriage. Anytime there is a significant change to your daily routine, it can result in additional stress.
Some marriages do not handle the stress well, and eventually, one spouse may file for divorce. A study by sociologists from the University of Washington between 2001 and 2015 in Washington State found there is a pattern that occurs biannually when it comes to divorce. The two most common times to file for divorce are during the summer and in January after the holidays.
Summer often means spending more time with your spouse. This can often be when you realize that the marriage is simply not working anymore. Few couples want to file for divorce during the holidays, so that explains why there is an increase in January.
If you are considering filing for divorce, it’s important that you start collecting information ahead of filing. Some of that information includes:
- Bank accounts
- Credit cards
- Property titles
- Phone records
- Other valuable assets
- Retirement accounts
You should also speak with an experienced divorce attorney to learn more about what you need to do before filing. Summer is a good time to speak with your financial advisors, family and friends, too, about the divorce. However, you may want to keep the information away from your spouse until you are ready to speak with him or her about it or file the divorce paperwork.
Divorce can be a very stressful time in your life, too. Putting together a support team can help you deal with the changes that are taking place. Your attorney can provide resources to help when needed.
