It’s not new news that the divorce rate increases significantly in January, for a myriad of purported reasons. According to The Examiner, this could be because some couples want to wait until after the holidays; sometimes for the sake of the kids, sometimes to minimize stress levels at an already incredibly stressful time of year. “Other wait to wait to take advantage of year-end job bonuses, if they come, so they’ll have the extra funds to cover attorney, moving and other related expenses,” according to The Examiner. According to The Huffington Post, the increase in number of divorces in January could also have to do with New Year’s resolutions and the fact that a person’s “marital status on December 31 determines whether or not the following year’s taxes are filed jointly.”
Cathy Meyer, a divorce consultant, told the Huffington Post that the increase in January divorces “amazes her,” and recognizes that the months is often called “Divorce Month” among industry professionals. Meyer notes, however, that her website, DivorcedWomenOnline.com, sees the most traffic in the days immediately after the holidays. “I see a huge increase in pageviews and searches the day after Christmas,” she told Huffington Post. “People start looking for information before the New Year starts, but they can’t do much until the attorneys are back in the office. January 12–16 seems to be the magic week for filings.”
The Examiner reminds families beginning to consider divorce that while New Year divorce may make the most sense for the couple, winter divorces can be especially difficult for children involved. “Parents need to bend over backwards to minimize the changes and transitions in their child’s life,” and this is especially important in the middle of the school year, as a New Year divorce would be.
If you or someone you know is considering divorce, don’t go through it alone. Contact a dedicated DuPage County divorce attorney today.
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