For many solicitors, January has become synonymous with divorce. We invariably see a significant influx of divorce and separation-related enquiries at this time of year. This trend appears to be matched by online search queries recorded by Google upon the same subject.
There are seemingly two key reasons as to why so many people find this time of year the most fitting time to look at obtaining a divorce.
The End of Christmas Festivities
Christmas may appear to be one of the more cheerful times of the year for most of us. For some, it may only reinforce a harsh reality that their marriage isn’t what they had imagined.
The financial pressures of Christmas, especially where there are the expectations of children to be met, undoubtedly places a strain on fractured relationships. For many in this situation, Christmas is simply about ‘survival’ and making it through to the end of the festivities where they can take a deep breath and reflect.
As the festive season concludes, all that may remain upon reflection is the reality of the situation. Couple this with it being a particularly cold, dark and wet time of the year in the UK, and it can lead many people to question whether their situations are everything they had imagined.
Resolutions, Self-improvement and a ‘New Year, New Me’ mindset
Additionally, the start of any New Year has long been one where many people tend to set resolutions, or follow the ‘New Year New Me’ trend, bringing into sharp focus things they aren’t happy with in their lives.
This quest for positive change can lead, for better or worse, to decisions which end relationships. Many people find that psychologically, January is ‘the right time’ to commence a divorce and hope that by the time a further 12 months have gone by, their situation will be all the better for it.
Stuart Barton
Senior Associate Solicitor
“Whilst Christmas and the prospect of a New Year often brings happiness and joy to many families, it can also be a massive cause of additional stress where there are existing fault-lines in a relationship. Financial worries over the costs of the festive period, the challenges of coping with the in-laws or perhaps getting a long-awaited Christmas present badly wrong are all potential events that can rapidly cause a strained relationship to go into meltdown. It would not be an exaggeration to say that in my experience, many couples contemplate separation in the run-up to Christmas but decide to wait until after the festivities are over before taking active steps to pursue a divorce or resolve financial matters with their partner. This may be owing to a wish to ensure that Christmas is not ‘spoilt’ for their children or their extended families. Equally, they may reach a point where psychologically, it simply feels ‘right’ to commence a divorce at the start of a New Year, rather than doing so at the end of the previous one.”
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