subject: Untying The Knot - When Is Divorce Month? [print this page] Every year thousands of marriages end as couples contact lawyers and go through the divorce process. In 2010 the divorce rate rose for the first time since 2004, an increase that many pinned on the stress of the economic climate and the recession. Many observers disagree on what time of year divorces are most common, with the particular month that they have decided divorces are highest being dubbed divorce month. So when do commentators suggest is divorce month and why are these particular months more popular than others?
The most commonly named divorce month is January. It is not difficult to see why moods may darken and relationships may falter in the coldest and darkest month of the year. January can be seen as something of a breaking point for many relationships. The festive season often puts pressure on couples to spend a great deal of time together which can highlight the problems in a relationship that may have been less obvious before the holidays. Equally a lot of time over the Christmas period is spent with each others family, something that - for some couples - can be challenging at the best of times! Emotions often run high over the Christmas period and family pressures can only add to the tensions already present. Over the Christmas period many couples may come to realise what in their marriage isnt working.
Equally, some couples who have already come to the realisation that their marriage is falling apart may use Christmas to give it one last try or one last push to see if their relationship can be salvaged. If the couple has children to consider, they may wait until after Christmas to start divorce proceedings so that their children are not left with unhappy yuletide memories. For many people the New Year has connotations of a fresh start or a new beginning. January is often a point of decision for many couples, they may not want to spend another year in their unhappy situation and see the New Year as time to make changes.
Alternately, the month of September is also often highlighted as a divorce month. September brings with it the beginning of autumn and the end of the summer. The summer holidays can function in much the same way as the Christmas season as either a breaking point or a time of reflection. Couples taking time off work over the summer and spending time together may realise that their problems are irresolvable or they may take the summer months to try and reflect on the status of their relationship. By the time September rolls around many couples will have made a decision on whether or not to continue their marriage. It has been pointed out that as we spend so much time starting a new year of school in September, we have almost become conditioned to see September as something of a new start.
The summer months often see many tasks being postponed, the calls to lawyers in September are from not just new clients but people who have started the divorce process and have let it stall over the summer. Many people power down in July and August and let things slide for longer than they may do in spring or autumn. Not only do clients go on holiday but their lawyers also take time off, causing a pause in divorce proceedings. Also in a similar stay together for the kids vein as the Christmas period, many parents may wait until their children are back in school before beginning divorce proceedings. For parents, September may also see their last child leave for university, a huge turning point in family life. The crisp air of September often brings feelings of change and new beginnings, which for some marriages may mean the start of divorce.
Other suggested divorce months are June and March. Some law firms report spikes in June, possible because the prospect of the summer holidays and spending time together can be the catalyst for beginning the divorce proceedings. Others may have more time in June to spend dealing with the divorce process. The month of March is often a follow on from the increases in applications for divorces in January. Though many people do start their divorce process in January, the beginning of the year is often when decisions are made. February then, is the month where couples who have made the decision to divorce begin to research and plan; they spend time finding law firms and sorting out personal finances. As a result March is the month where many couples are prepared to begin filing for divorce. Though these months have been picked out as divorce months some commentators claim that every month is divorce month, they point out that every month brings the breakdown of hundreds of marriages.
