Is January Really Divorce Month? Maybe.

Did January feel like the longest month ever? It did for me. Like, every day felt like a week long, longest month. Do you agree? Right after New Year’s, I saw a lot of articles calling January, “Divorce Month.” Heck, even divorce day is January 6th.

So I decided that after January was over, I would do an article about whether or not I agreed that January really is “divorce month.” To be honest, I wasn’t sure if I was going to agree. In my experience, I usually see an uptick in work during January because existing clients, who may have put their divorce on hold for the holidays, come back ready to finish the divorce process. But a lot of new clients waiting until January 1st to start a divorce action? Not so much.

Before I give you the results, I want to talk about why people may think January is divorce month. Here are some reasons why:

1. Holiday stress exacerbates issues that are already present in the marriage;
2. People see January as a time to start fresh, which includes separating from their spouses; and
3. The cost of the holidays can reveal larger issues about a couple’s finances.

Holiday stress exacerbates issues that are already present in the marriage, leading to January being divorce month.

Are the holidays really “the most wonderful time of the year?” Not always. It is no secret that the holidays, while often enjoyable, can also be super stressful. Do you agree? Is this why January is divorce month?

Spending money, juggling family members and obligations, and getting those last minute gifts, can just mean a whole ball of stress for everyone. Oh and Aunt Marge is coming to stay too? Yikes.

Being able to handle these stressful times as a couple is really important. I mean, they don’t say for better or worse in traditional marriage vows for no reason. For example, were you already feeling unsupported by your spouse before they dropped the ball when his or her parent’s came to town? Did your spouse embarrass you at the family Christmas dinner one time too many?

These incidents, by themselves, may not be much. Most people don’t get divorced because their spouse forgot to pick up the can of green beans that you asked for (even if it was the twentieth time you asked). But, unfortunately, these difficult moments can reveal when a couple is just not on the same page. They can also just be the last straw in an ever growing pile of straws.

So it makes sense that January, the month after the holidays, would be the time when a person would want to initiate divorce. However, make sure that doing so is not just a gut reaction to something that happened during December.

Ask yourself: was this incident an example of a problem? Will I still be mad about this in March? If the answer to the second question is no, or “I’m not sure,” take a breath and wait to see if filing for divorce during “divorce month” is the right move for you. Ironically, March is actually the month with the most divorce filings so, maybe people are actually taking this advice!

People see January as a time to start fresh, which includes separating from their spouses.

While it may be a dreary month weather wise, January can really be considered the most beautiful month of the year. You may be saying but Liz, really? Why do you think that? it’s cold and there are no presents. Bleech.

While the weather is less than ideal, January is a symbol of our evergreen ability to start fresh. I love the fact that we get a chance to start over every year. It’s a clean slate with endless possibilities. I mean, we all know that January is the month of New Year’s resolutions. Losing weight, reading more, going to be earlier are all common January goals. Should we add getting divorced to the list?

So, for some, starting over means getting divorced. By filing for divorce in January, a person is saying I want to start this year new. I want it to be different than last year. This is my year to get it right and live the life I want. Is this you?

I see how tempting this is. But again, while January is month of fresh starts, you have every day to “get it right” and start again. So don’t feel like you need to be on a certain time line because of what the calendar says. Every month can be divorce month if it is the right move for you.

The cost of the holidays can reveal larger issues about a couple’s finances.

Money, by itself, may not be a top reason that couples get divorced. However, how spouses deal with their money issues can reveal larger problems in their union. And, what is more expensive than the holidays?

Gift giving, traveling, holiday parties, oh my. These expenses can really add up. And, if you and your spouse are not on the same page when it comes to your finances, these large expenditures can reveal major issues in your communication styles and life goals.

Therefore, these disagreements may cause you to find yourself questioning whether you and your partner are on the same page with regards to your future. And, it is that reason, and not necessarily the cost of the Thanksgiving turkey, that can cause January to become divorce month.

So is January really divorce month?

So you may be asking yourself, but Liz, what did you find out, is January really divorce month? I have to say I definitely have had more calls for new cases this month than the last few. So, for that reason, I will endorse January as divorce month.

But . . . .

Are you contemplating a divorce? Remember, there is no right or wrong time to file for divorce unless it is the right or wrong time for you. So don’t let a date on a calendar influence your decision to end your marriage. Deciding to file for divorce or even to go see a divorce lawyer for an initial consultation is a big step. Make sure that you are making this move only when you feel fully informed and emotionally ready to do so. In fact, this is what the Divorce Lawyer Life is all about!

Did you file for divorce in January? Make sure that you sign up for my newsletter and get my free guide for what to do when you have just separated from your spouse.

Do you agree? Have you seen holiday disagreements lead to separations and divorce filings? Did I miss a reason for January to be considered divorce month? Let me know in the comments!