There are some familiar ebbs and flows in family law – and one of them is the fact that family law offices see a big rise in new divorce inquiries at the start of every year and once again at the end of summer.
It makes sense that a lot of people file for divorce in January, since they’ve usually been gritting their teeth to get through the holiday season in a dead marriage. But what causes people to file for divorce at the end of summer? Here are the possibilities:
Lost hopes for reconciliation
It’s very easy to get caught up in the daily grind of life. With all the stress and hassles you may face on a daily basis, you may convince yourself that your marital strain is just a by-product of your busy life. You may figure that you and your spouse can reconnect and reconcile over a holiday vacation. When that doesn’t happen, you may come to the conclusion that your marriage is simply over.
You reach a breaking point
Sometimes, summer vacations and all that alone time with your spouse or family togetherness can actually bring unhappiness that’s been quietly simmering in the background to a full-blown boil. If you end up in emotional scenes or screaming matches with your spouse because you simply have become two drastically different people, you may realize that the relationship has become toxic and finally be ready to leave.
It’s another neutral time
Finally, there’s some timing involved. If you have minor children who start back in school in the fall, you may want to initiate a divorce at that time so that you can keep them as far removed from the drama at home as possible. If your last child is leaving for college, you may consider the end of your duty to provide a stable home and be more willing to leave a bad marriage. Plus, August is still conveniently far enough from the holiday season that you won’t feel like you have to put on a mask for the sake of appearances and family unity – as long as you act quickly.
If you find yourself contemplating divorce at the end of summer, it may be wise to learn about your legal options.
