January - Divorce Month

For Divorce Professionals, January is known as "Divorce Month" for a few reasons:

• NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS:

 Just as we set our intentions, resolutions, and goals for the New Year regarding physical fitness, nutrition, financial security, etc., many have also set intentions, resolutions, and goals regarding their relationships. They are empowered and prepared to resolve family conflicts. And to many, that means initiating the Divorce process.

• HOLIDAYS:

Many might previously have been ready to move forward to resolve family conflicts, but they opted to wait until the Holidays passed to spare their spouse and family of the news of their decision until after the Holidays.

Others might have experienced the stress and strain of the Holidays, and the issues may have shown to be more pronounced and magnified during the Holidays, prompting a realization and ultimate decision that Divorce is inevitable.

Others might have held out hope that the Holidays would bring them together with their spouse or they simply dreaded the idea of showing up at the Holiday Table with extended family without their spouse.

More women than men initiate Divorce - approximately 70% (according to Newsweek, January 2024). From Thanksgiving to the New Year, women often shoulder more of the responsibility (some willingly and joyously and some begrudgingly) of the meal preparations, cooking and cleaning, gathering and wrapping of gifts, etc. By the New Year, this may be what pushes them to make the decision to Divorce.

• TAXES AND FINANCIAL PLANNING:

Others see the New Year as a new Tax Year and an opportunity to engage in long-term Financial Planning separate from their spouse.

According to a study by Brian Serafini and Julie Brines of the University of Washington, which analyzed data from 2001 to 2015, more Divorce filings occur in March. However, January is the starting point.

To thrive, relationships and marriages require nurturing, effort, communications, mutual respect and trust, along with some joy, throughout the year. Absent these elements, by the end of the year, many initiate Divorce.

If you have a client, family member, colleague, or friend who has made the decision to Divorce, we are available to assist them and their spouse through the Divorce Mediation process.

For more information, please see our website - www.clearwatermediations.com - or contact us - (253) 354-3604.