It is often said that divorces rise in January, with some referring to it as “Divorce Month.” It sounds logical, as many people like to take advantage of the changing of the calendar year to make big changes in their lives — and there’s nothing quite as transformative to one’s life like a divorce.
But, is “Divorce Month” based on facts, or is it merely some kind of urban legend?
Statistics disagree
For all the talk of January seeing the highest number of divorces, a 2016 University of Washington study found that it was March and August that actually saw the most divorce filings.
What is perhaps true is that many people make up their minds to divorce in January or start moving to find out more. They may have been thinking about it for a while, but did not want to spoil important dates in the calendar, such as Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa or New Year’s by announcing it earlier. This is especially true for those with young children.
Alternatively, organizing for those events may not have left them with time to start researching how a divorce would work. Or perhaps, they weren’t sure they wanted a divorce, but the get-togethers and expenses that come with these dates convinced them it was time to end their marriage.
Does it matter which month you file for divorce?
You can file for divorce in any month, so the best time is generally when you are ready. However, you might want to investigate the potential tax consequences of filing before or after the change of tax year, as whether you file your taxes as a couple or as individuals can often make a significant financial difference.
While whether and when to divorce is your decision, it is often helpful to get legal guidance before you make that choice. This way, you can make a more informed decision on what will work best for your unique situation.