Beginning Your New Year with Divorce: Why Couples May Divorce in January

By Sheryl Rentz on December 31, 2012

As reported by Divorce360.com, a number of couples across the nation make the difficult decision to divorce at the beginning of the new year, but why is January a popular month to make a split official? The increased filings in the beginning of the New Year may be in response to the need for “self-improvement” that many feel during the start of a year. One woman, the operator of FamilyLawCourts.com, jumped at the chance to finalize her divorce from her husband in January with thoughts of “new year, new life.”

However, the woman regrets the decision she made to do a bifurcated divorce suggested by her attorney, which speeds the finality of divorce before custody or financial issues are negotiated.

She wishes she would have taken the time to complete the negotiations before finalizing, and hopes her story will serve as a cautionary tale for others. She advises moving forward with a divorce or separation, but in small increments, encouraging others to consider the ramifications of the split before making any permanent decisions.

A psychologist explains that divorcing in January may be the result of financial conditions or holiday stress, and setting the divorce process in motion may be less emotionally and financially taxing after the holidays have passed. She adds that getting past the holiday season and entering the new year is a time for a new beginning, “so it makes a lot of sense for January to be the month when these changes are made.”

These new beginnings may include divorce, when people are more willing to take a risk if they believe it will be a positive and life-improving change. But moving forward with the decision more slowly may lessen the chance of regrets and can ensure you have made the best decision in beginning a new chapter of your life.

Family law attorney Sheryl R. Rentz understands how difficult making the decision to divorce can be, and is dedicated to helping clients understand their legal rights and options in order to aid them in making informed decisions. If you are a Pennsylvania resident considering divorce, schedule a complimentary consultation with Ms. Rentz by calling (610) 645-0100 to discuss your situation and how to best proceed with your divorce.

Ms. Rentz would like to wish everyone a safe and happy new year!