After the holiday season is over, both attorneys and the courts see an uptick in divorce filings, especially in the first half of January creating the nickname ‘divorce month.’

According to an article published in the New York Times in 2019, there is a significant jump from December to January in Google searches of the topic of divorce as well as attorneys doing more filings and taking on new clients.

Two factors may play a role in this yearly trend. One factor includes not wanting to ruin the holidays for children and other family members.

Divorce also rises after the holidays because of the idea of starting the year fresh.

“The holidays are over, and I’m not going into this year as miserable as I was last year.” Vicky Townsend, co-founder and chief executive of the National Association of Divorce Professionals, said in the New York Times article.

Although filings may see a jump from December to January, it doesn’t mean that marriages on the rocks are doomed during this time. Divorce filings are often cyclical and caused by many factors, especially this year with the pandemic at play.

“Too much time with family can often trigger someone waking up and realizing, ‘This is not what I want for the rest of my life,’” according to Susan Myres, president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers and a divorce lawyer in Houston. “You’ll see an uptick in filings after Valentine’s Day and around August,” when children have had summer off and before school starts.

January may not spell the end of one’s marriage, however if you are thinking about separating, it may be time to give an attorney a call about your potential options.

Attorney Neil Magner has over 15 years of experience serving southeastern Wisconsin in various forms of family law, including divorce and legal separation, post-judgment modifications, child custody and support matters, equitable property division and paternity cases. Call 414-281-4529 to schedule an appointment.