January is the time for resolutions. A common theory is that it’s a popular time for divorces. As it turns out, the numbers back up the theory.
One certified divorce consultant says that the first month of the year is indeed when attorneys see the most divorce filings. As the temperatures plunge, divorce rates surge, so much so that some in the industry have dubbed January “divorce month.”
But why? Many think that unhappy couples wait until after the holidays to look into divorcing. Some try to make it through the holidays for the sake of their children, but if their marriage is still not working by the new year, they move on.
The holidays tend to bring strong emotions and a bit of chaos. If someone is near their breaking point, the holidays may push them over the edge.
In addition, the divorce consultant says that people make year-end reflections in December and also think about New Year’s resolutions. It’s natural for people to think about what’s working in their lives and what isn’t.
And a practical factor is tax time. A person’s marital status on Dec. 31 will determine whether taxes the next year will need to be filed jointly.
Is it really important that January is a busy divorce month? According to the Huffington Post, the founder of an online divorce community says, “not really.” She says that “the reality is that every month is ‘divorce month.'”
Source: Huffington Post, “January: more divorces than any other month?” Meghan Beresford, Jan. 4, 2011