Most families in Washington and elsewhere are busy preparing for the holiday season. At the law office of Lutz & Associates, P.S., we know that this is not always a happy time of year for everyone. If you are one of the people considering a divorce during the holidays, you are far from alone. As your year is winding down, divorce attorney are preparing for one of the busiest times of the year.
In fact, the time that many family law attorneys call “divorce season” is fast approaching. As Business Insider explains, divorce filings across the country typically jump in January, going on to peak in February and March. Why do people file for divorce so soon after Christmas and New Year’s, you may wonder? This is supposed to be the happiest time of the year, after all. There are many reasons this is a popular time of year for divorce filings, including the following:
- The stress of the holidays may have put an irreparable strain on an already unhappy marriage.
- Couples may see the holidays as a last resort to try to save their marriages, only to realize that nothing can be done.
- People often see the new year as a time for hope, change and new beginnings; they may be excited, along with apprehensive and a little sad, to begin this new phase of life.
- Couples who have already decided to get divorced may have decided to wait until after the holidays to break the news to their children or to start over in the new year for tax reasons.
Regardless of the reasons your marriage is ending, as well as the timing, you may already know that each situation is different. Therefore, filing for divorce requires careful planning and thought. You can learn more about ending your marriage, including how to tell your children about the divorce, on our site.