Divorce Day: Why Marriages Fall Apart in the New Year

Today – the first working Monday of the New Year – marks Divorce Day, a day which sees a considerable surge in divorce filings and inquiries every year. In fact, the month of January has long been dubbed “Divorce Month” by family lawyers, who begin to see a sharp increase in phone calls and emails in the first month following the holiday season.

Last year, Relate, a relationship support organization dedicated to helping people who face relationship crises, reported a dramatic increase in website visitors during the first three working days after the New Year. The website experienced a whopping 84% increase in website visits.

Although divorce rates have been declining, divorce lawyers themselves state that 30% more couples end their marriages in the month of January than any other month, representing a trend that occurs year after year following the holidays.

This year, Divorce Day falls on January 3 and marks the beginning of what is now considered “Divorce Season” – a time of year when many couples decide to divorce.

Why Do So Many Choose to End Their Marriages on Divorce Day?

The holidays mark a festive period for families, one where memories are made and couples try to rebuild or fix their failing relationships. But while the holidays can be a joyous and happy time for families, they can also represent a turning point for couples who are experiencing problems in their marriages. This period can be full of overwhelming stress, familial tension, and financial burdens – all of which can put even more pressure on already strained relationships. And it is this pressure which can expose flaws in a marriage.

Most couples wait until the holidays are over before starting the divorce process. This could be because they want to protect their children and allow them to enjoy the holidays. It could also be a couple’s last-ditch effort to see if the marriage can work itself out.

In most cases, though, when the holidays are over, couples who tolerated each other during the festive period decide to take the plunge and file for divorce – which is why January sees such a sharp spike in divorce rates.

January: Divorce Month

The arrival of the New Year not only marks the end of the festive season, but it also brings hope for change and fresh beginnings – and in some cases, the end of a marriage. And, once the dust from holiday commitments settles, the first change many people look to make is in their marriage. This is just one of the reasons why January is such a popular month for divorce inquiries and filings.

If you are considering divorce in the New Year, it is likely that today – and throughout the month of January  – you will be making inquiries and weighing out all your options. If you have tried everything you can to resolve your problems with your spouse, and you are now seriously considering divorce, schedule an initial consultation with a family lawyer to find out what your options are. For more resources on filing for divorce, click here.