January - The 'Divorce Month'

The month of January has traditionally been a busy time of year for lawyers and family law firms. So much so that it has now acquired the moniker 'divorce month'. But is this tag justified and why does January seem to bring things to a head for struggling couples.

Impact on Legal FirmsIt is not necessarily the case that January brings with it the highest number of divorces actually completing but any family law or divorce lawyer will tell you anecdotally that they do indeed handle many more individuals or couples who look to get the ball rolling in January than at any other time of year; to the extent that family law firms now brace themselves by planning to maximise their available resources as they enter the New Year.

Impact on Other SectorsThis upsurge in divorce enquiries doesn’t just affect lawyers but can even bring with it an increase in business for estate agents, as prospective divorcees look to either value their property ahead of a divorce or sell it as a result of one. Perversely, this January influx of available properties can be seen as an annual fillip to the housing market in general (not just estate agents) as more valuable properties are often unlocked, although the newly single divorcees can also provide additional competition further down the ladder against, for example, first time buyers.

What’s more, the number of internet search queries on divorce related subjects such as "how to divorce" can clearly be seen to peak in January. Even online dating sites for divorcees see January as their busiest time of year.

There are many theories as to why January delivers this unfortunate bounty. It is likely that, being in the ‘bleak midwinter’, individuals’ personal happiness contributes significantly to conflict but lawyers do also point to a few particular factors that repeatedly play a part in the cases they handle.

© Stuart Mitchell 2012 Page 1 of 2

Festive Flash-pointThe festive period plays an obvious role as a flash-point for struggling couples as well as a yardstick when considering the future. Many couples find themselves spending more time in each others company than at any other time of year, except perhaps on summer holidays, and in that situation they can find that issues they may have been suppressing become more apparent and salient. Add to this that the festivities can bring more family pressures than at any other point and it can be a ‘volatile’ combination. The pressures for couples to spend time with each other’s families, buy presents and deal with the expectations of children can exacerbate the issues in any unsuccessful relationship. If couples struggle to cope with financial issues successfully the festive period can add another nail in the proverbial coffin with the outlay of present shopping making it the toughest couple of weeks on the bank balance. Moreover, the enforced expectation that it should be the happiest time of year can bring into stark focus how broken relationships actually are. All in all it can be a very emotional and challenging period.

New BeginningsGenerally divorce lawyers report that people take a while to consider divorce before making their first legal enquiries. Taking this into consideration it is even more apparent that January should prove a pivotal time of year for couples with all of the triggers it presents. Many use the festive period and perhaps the New Year in particular as a yardstick and a point at which they consider where they are in their lives and where they are going. It is perceived as a time for new beginnings and if they have been thinking about the state of their marriage throughout the year, the New Year may well spur them into action as they look ahead to the future and whether they wish to spend another year in the situation they’re in.

There certainly seems to be a trend, particularly with couples who are under considerable financial pressures in the current economic climate, to stick out the year and get through the demands of Christmas before reviewing personal finances in the New Year - that is, to determine whether they can solve current conflicts and/or how they will be positioned in the event of divorce proceedings. This is evidenced by the fact that estate agents can be inundated with requests for property valuations by people reviewing their finances within their relationships.

Happy ChristmasSome couples no doubt see the festive period as one last attempt to salvage the relationship, or at least one last test of it, but unfortunately, for many couples, their problems only become exaggerated rather than fixed. Those with children tend to report that they stay together through the period for the sake of their children to avoid ruining their Christmases and scarring an emotional time of year for them. Once they are out the other side and the children are back into their school routines that motivation recedes and a realisation sets in. In fact many law firms believe that the first Monday following the resumption of the school term is their busiest day of the year.

All this doesn't suggest that January is the most appropriate time of year or easiest to get divorced or start proceedings, but it does confirm that the it is simply the time of year when there are more contributing factors that seem to more struggling couples in that particular direction.

For those wanting to find out more about what advice and services are available when looking to resolve difficulties in your relationships you can visit Steel & Shamash Family Lawyers.

© Stuart Mitchell 2012 Page 2 of 2