The first working day of the New Year is unofficially dubbed ‘Divorce Day’ – when Family Law Specialists around the country see a sharp rise in divorce enquiries.
The New Year marks the end of the festive period, and for many couples it also marks the end of their marriage. It’s no secret that January is the busiest month of the year for divorce. But why is this?
Why do so many couples file for divorce after the festive period ends?
As cheerful as Christmas may seem for most, the period in the run-up to Christmas can often be very stressful. The strain of gift giving, finances, and spending time with extended family can cause cracks to appear in relationships. It is thought that the added financial pressures and family tensions are often the main reasons why a relationship can breakdown over the Christmas holiday.
In fact, stats show that 20% of couples consider breaking up during Christmas time. While this is true, we believe that Christmas itself isn’t the reason so many couples call it quits after the festive season.
With many of our clients, we find that the couple have been delaying their divorce to spend one last Christmas as a family for the sake of their children. Usually the decision to break up was made some time ago and they choose to try to ‘keep it together’ during Christmas time. If life was a Hallmark movie, Christmas would save the marriage and help bring the family back together. But the reality usually is, that the strains associated with the festive period just puts the marriage further into question.
New Year, New ‘No-Fault Divorce’
The New Year is a time where people reflect on their lives and plan a fresh start for the year ahead. This explains why the first working day of the year is dubbed as ‘Divorce Day’. Whatever the reason for the relationship breaking down, it is a well known fact that divorce rates increase in the New Year, once life reverts back to normality.
If the New Year has marked the end of your marriage, there is some good news. In 2022 the new No-Fault Divorce bill became law in England. The introduction of this legislation has made the process easier for couples who wish to divorce.
The new No-Fault Divorce bill states either party to a marriage can request a divorce without having to cite blame – essentially ending the ‘blame game’ that has been associated with divorce for many years.
Prior to this, one of the following five factors must have been given as the cause of the marriage breakdown in order for the divorce to be granted:
✔️ Unreasonable behaviour
✔️ Adultery
✔️ Five years of separation without consent
✔️ Two years of separation with consent
✔️ Desertion
The process is now less acrimonious and enables people to focus on other practical and emotional aspects of their separation, including reducing conflict for children.
Get in Touch
If your relationship has broken down and you want to divorce, consider legal advice early. We welcome you to contact our team of Divorce Specialists who will support you through the legal process. Send us a confidential message via our online contact form to see how we can help you.