Couples that file for divorce after the holidays tend to have issues long before the holiday season begins, but tensions often increase during this time of year. More often than not, struggling couples file for divorce immediately following the New Year. In fact, so many couples file for divorce in the first months of the year that January, February, and March have become known collectively as the “Season of Divorce”.

According to divorce filing statistics, the rate of divorce across the country has spiked each year in January, increased in February, and peaked towards the end of March¹.

Studies show that in New York, Illinois, and California, February is the busiest month of the year for divorce attorneys, averaging 18 percent more in divorce filings than in an average month².

Some of the Most Common Reasons Why the Holidays Can Lead to Divorce

The holidays can be hard on even the best of marriages. If you’re struggling to maintain your relationship, the holiday season can create enough additional stress to cause you to file for divorce. Below are some of the most common reasons for couples to file for divorce after the holidays.

1. Heightened financial pressures

Finances are the number one problem couples fight about any time of the year. When you add in the pressure of buying Christmas gifts, the costs of traveling, and the expense of entertaining family and guests, the added financial pressures of the holiday can cause problems in even the happiest of marriages.

2. Family issues

The holidays are when families gather, even when they don’t want to. When you dread spending time with your in-laws, the holidays can seem like more of a burden then a time for celebration.

3. Travel can cause family friction

Flying is a stressful process. Trying to get a family ready for a long flight, long waits at the airport, flying, transferring to another airport and unexpected delays can often be trying in any type of relationship. Driving may be just as bad, if not worse, especially if you and your family are driving for hours on end.

4. The children are home for the holidays

Sometimes just having all the kids home from school for the holidays is difficult for couples to deal with. For older couples, when adult children come home with their spouses and kids, all the commotion can be hard to deal with. When children don’t get along or when old arguments keep coming up, the marriage can suffer.

Sometimes a couple just wants to wait until after the holidays to file for divorce, intending to endure their spouse during the holidays for the sake of the children. Other times, the New Year brings with it a dread of spending one more year of dealing with the same person. January is the month of change. For some couples, that change entails divorce.

Keep the Holiday Season from Leading to the Season of Divorce

Here are a few tips to help you keep your marriage running strong through the holidays:

• Emotions run high during the holiday season, so take some time to let your emotions cool, and let yourself recover from the after-holiday emotional crash before filing for a divorce.
• If finances are causing trouble in your marriage, develop a holiday budget, and stick to it, no matter who may get left off your list or who you might have to say no to. Keep your financial health as the highest priority so you can continue moving forward after the holidays.
• If traveling or entertaining cause problems in your marriage, then try keeping things simple and close to home this holiday season.

If you and your spouse find that divorce is the only solution, be sure to hire an experienced attorney to protect your best interest throughout the divorce process.

Call the Divorce Attorneys at Wallin & Klarich

If you are serious about getting a divorce, call a skilled divorce attorney from Wallin & Klarich immediately. Our attorneys have over 30 years of experience in successfully representing clients who need to get a divorce. Our offices are located in Los Angeles, Sherman Oaks, Torrance, Tustin, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, West Covina and Victorville. Call us today at (888) 749-7428 for a free phone consultation. We will be there when you call.

^{1. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2014/feb/18/split-season-january-march-divorce-rates-rise/↩}

^{2. http://money.cnn.com/2013/02/15/pf/valentine-divorce/↩}