Most people start the new year off optimistically. They have big plans for a positive change in the upcoming year. Some people decide this is the year that they go back to finish their degree. Others might commit to weight loss or set other health goals.
For others, the new year comes with the decision to end a struggling marriage. Some experts call January “divorce month,” as many family law attorneys see their new client consultations surge in the first weeks of the new year. Although resolving to file for divorce may initially seem like a negative choice, moving on from an unhealthy or unsatisfying marriage can be one of the most positive decisions any person might make.
What typically inspires so many people to begin the new year with a divorce?
For parents, the decision to wait until after the holidays is often a protective one. They don’t want their children to feel surrounded by conflict during their school break or anxious during the holiday season. Parents frequently wait until after the holidays to file for divorce or start working with a lawyer because they don’t want to ruin the holidays for their children.
Others may have seen the holidays as a last opportunity for their spouses to make a change. Thoughtless gifts, the refusal to participate in planning or intoxication during breaks from work can all remind people that their marriages have been unfulfilling and that they are ready for something better.
As people assess their lives and think about the future around the first of the year, they may come to realize that their marriages are unsatisfying or even unhealthy. Most people recognize that divorce takes months to complete, if not longer.
People hoping to have the upcoming year be the last one they spend in an unhappy marriage may move quickly to begin the divorce process after the new year starts. That way, this year becomes the last year that they commit to the failed marital relationship.
Consulting with a divorce attorney can help people begin the process of protecting themselves and preparing for the cleanest exit possible at the end of a marriage. Spouses who find themselves dreaming of a fresh start or feeling unfulfilled after the holidays may ultimately come to recognize that filing for divorce is the best option available to them.
