One interesting thing that happens in the fall is that divorce rates tend to spike in August and then drop in the following months. They often reach their lowest in November and December. But they then rise again in January, leading to some people referring to January as “divorce month.”
But why does the divorce rate go down in the fall? Often, it comes from people intentionally putting off divorce until they get through the holiday season. Many couples will actively avoid filing for divorce in October, November and December, but then move forward with divorce in January. So it is not necessarily that more couples want to split up in January, but simply that this is when they actually take the first steps to do so.
What should you do if you are preparing for a divorce?
Perhaps you have found yourself in this situation. You know that you want to end your marriage, but you are not going to do it until the new year starts. Maybe you want to avoid the holidays, or perhaps you just think the new year is a time for a fresh start and a change, so it makes the most sense.
If so, you can still use the following time to prepare. You may need to gather financial documentation such as bank statements, tax returns or similar records. If you are a business owner, you may need to take this time to do a business evaluation, since you will need to split the business as a marital asset. If you are worried that your spouse is hiding assets, you may want to work with a forensic accountant to find these assets and ensure that full disclosure is made.
As you go through this process and get closer to divorce, take the time to carefully consider all of your legal rights and options.