It’s no secret that the holidays can be a tough time of year for spouses experiencing marital problems. The situation is even more difficult if children are involved. New Jersey residents going through this kind of situation should know that they are not alone.
Divorce attorneys will tell you that many people wait until after the New Year to announce their intention to divorce. Sometimes the news is a shock, either to one spouse or to relatives, and sometimes everyone involved saw the decision coming. In either case, spouses considering divorce need to be aware of what they’re lives might look like after the split, and how the divorce settlement will play a role.
The reasons for waiting until after the New Year to divorce are many: families have made travel arrangements, and neither spouse wants to disappoint relatives. Or maybe the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is too much for either party to think clearly about the future, or maybe there is the chance that the holidays might rekindle the marriage.
And, of course, there is the matter of how children would react to the news that their parents are splitting up. Parents generally don’t want their kids to associate divorce with a time that is meant to be warm and affectionate, so it is completely understandable when parents wait until January to break the news.
While the holiday season can be a touchy time of year for many couples, it is important to remember that what is difficult now may not be as difficult next year. When the time is right, individuals considering divorce may want to take the necessary legal steps to ensure that they and their children are financially and emotionally protected for years to come.
Source: Huffington Post, “That Special Time of Year: Holidays Mean Waiting to Divorce,” Morghan Leia Richardson, Nov. 19, 2013
