Research shows an increase in divorce filings in January

HomeInsightsResearch shows an increase in divorce filings in January

For most New Jersey couples, there is no specific time at which they decide to get a divorce. Family law issues are complex, and the end of a marriage will generally happen when the spouses have determined they can no longer make the marriage work. Still, there is statistical evidence indicating there are certain times of year when divorce is more prevalent. January is one of those times.

Because so many people seem to file for divorce after the holiday season has ended and the new year is underway, January is called “Divorce Month” by many legal professionals. This stems from an uptick in business for family law attorneys and a variety of research studies. Social media searches bear this out.

Google Trends had a peak of divorce searches from in the second week in January of 2019. Pinterest had a 21% increase in “divorce party” searches in January when compared to December. That number was consistent with the two prior years. The University of Washington conducted a study in 2016 that analyzed the divorce filings in that state from 2001 to 2015. It looked at December’s filings and saw a spike in January. Other states had a similar statistical result.

The holiday season is believed to worsen simmering tensions between spouses and lead to a divorce. Factors like spending time together and travel can be key. The new year is also a time for people to start over. Part of that might be ending an unhappy marriage. Regardless of the reason for a divorce, the process can be difficult with property division, spousal support, child custody and child support being some of the common issues that can arise. Having legal assistance might be essential to address these concerns during a divorce.