If you have found yourself researching divorce, you are not alone. An ongoing trend is that questions about divorce and divorce filings, in general, pick up in early January in Michigan and around the country. It is a trend that has been going on for a few years even as the rate of divorce has decreased in general.
Why is January so popular for divorce filings?
There are many reasons why people wait until January to begin the divorce process. The reality is, however, that by the time a person seeks to end the marriage, the relationship had been deteriorating for a while. But many wait until the new year begins to start the process. Some of the reasons include:
- Parents wanting to protect their children’s memories of the holidays
- Couples having gone through another stressful holiday, traveling and spending a lot of time with family
- People looking for a fresh start in the new year
- Couples knowing the divorce process takes a long time and wanting to begin as early as possible to complete it
Approaching the divorce process
If you have decided to begin the process of divorce, you should also consider how to approach it so that you, and your children if you are a parent, can move forward with your life. Divorce will be stressful for all involved but attempting to approach the divorce without letting your feelings control your decisions can help you work with your estranged spouse towards a divorce settlement that is fair to you both. If you have children, this can also help you shield them from the additional stress a contentious divorce might generate and save them from some court appearances. Additionally, it can save you money as it might expedite the entire process.
