January is decidedly the busiest month for divorce attorneys, even being dubbed in the divorce community as “divorce month”. While there may never going to be a “good” time for a divorce, those with divorce on the mind seem to find January to be the best option. This has been demonstrated by Court data that shows 1/3 more people file for divorce in January than they do in any other month.
It makes sense that people don’t want to get divorced during the holidays. The holidays are about family, especially if you have children, and if you are considering divorce, you might have the mindset that you want your children to have one last “normal” holiday. Or, maybe you think that the magic of the holiday season has the potential to save your floundering marriage. Then you come to the harsh realization that the holidays were just as un-magical as always, and finally make the difficult decision to call it quits.
Or, you get through the holidays, and it’s the New Year. You make your resolutions, take the time to evaluate your life, and decide that you want to make some serious changes. Maybe you realize that things just don’t feel right anymore, that in order to find happiness in the New Year and in all the new years to come, you won’t be able to do so with your current spouse.
Interestingly, research has shown that after January, the next spike in divorce filings comes in March. Maybe Valentine’s Day was such a disappointment that it was the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. Or maybe all those people who decided change was a necessary part of their New Year’s resolutions and started to consider divorce in January took a few months to do their research and to make sure that divorce was the best option for them. Three months have given enough time to find a suitable attorney, to get a better understanding of the divorce process, and to find a way to break the news to the spouse…and then the kids.
The summer months tend to see the opposite trend. Research has shown that the least amounts of divorces are filed during the summer time. This may be explained by the fact that the children are on summer vacation, and parents may feel that it is better to begin the process once the children are back in school.
While there are definitely some notable trends in divorce, the above reasons for the January and March spikes and the summer lows are mere hypothecations. In reality, there are countless reasons that people decide to file to for divorce, and the best time to file for every person differs. For example, aside from the holidays as a reason to wait until the New Year to file for divorce, there are other considerations, such as tax consequences, that may explain why people choose the New Year to make their split.
Again, we know that there is never going to be a so-called “good” time to file for a divorce. For most, divorce is one of the most difficult and emotional life events that will ever be endured. If you are considering a divorce from your spouse, it is completely natural to have questions. For most, finding an attorney that you “click” with, who is able to provide competent representation and will make sure your rights are protected throughout the process can prove to be a huge weight off your shoulders.
Whether you are just starting to think about divorce and want to know more, or you have already made the decision to divorce and are ready to begin the process, please contact the divorce attorneys at Bickford Blado & Botros. Nancy J. Bickford is the only Certified Family Law Specialist (CFLS) in San Diego County who is also a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with a Master of Business Administration (MBA). Don’t settle for less when determining your rights. Call 858-793-8884 in Del Mar, Carmel Valley, North County or San Diego.