Ever heard the term ‘Divorce Month’ and wondered what it is and whether it’s real? 

There is plenty of anecdotal evidence that when January rolls around each year, divorce lawyers receive an influx of enquires about separation and divorce. 

January – the season for divorce?

Jennifer Hetherington, a Divorce Lawyer from Brisbane, has certainly noticed the trend.

"Divorce January is a well-known phenomenon in the legal industry.  It's difficult to quantify the number of divorces that begin in that first month of the year as all divorces are different and the time it takes to separate and file varies from couple to couple. That's not to say that all those enquiries end up making the split. I wonder if there's also "Couples Counselling February.” 

And lawyers like Hetherington aren’t just imagining this. Google also experiences a spike in searches for divorce. 

A study by the University of Washington recognised a trend that that divorce filings rise from January and peak in March. It then rapidly declines in the later months of the year. Lawyers often catch multiple cases of “seasonal divorce” after holiday periods.

While this statistic isn’t about enquiries into divorce, it sheds light into what time of the year couples seem the most willing or motivated to take action for divorce.

What prompts Divorce Month?

In the months before the new year, most people are entering holiday mode. Many parents are wrapping up work for the year, the kids are on school holidays, family is visiting and people go on vacations. On the surface, it seems like a fun and relaxing time of year. But in reality, it can put a lot of pressure on couples – from the financial stress of holiday celebrations like Christmas, to the strain that can accompany time spent with extended family.

December often means people spend a lot more time with their spouse. All this togetherness can bring to light issues that have been ignored. The tension can build to such a degree that when the time for New Year’s reflection rolls around, the separation conversation feels unavoidable.

Sometimes this leads to a new approach, such as couple’s counselling. At other times, couples acknowledge it’s the end of the road. 

The reality is…

Divorce Month may be a time when more people begin enquiring about divorce, but finalising a divorce is a different matter entirely. Separation and divorce is a journey and it doesn’t happen all at once. 

Couples need to separate for one year before filing for divorce. And even then, it may take longer to sort out property settlements and child custody arrangements. No matter when you decide to begin the process of separation and divorce, be sure to gather trusted people around you. The journey can be long and bumpy, but with the right support, you can reach the other side with a bright future ahead.