There are two unofficial “divorce seasons” every year — one in March and one in August. Those are the peak months for new clients to make their way to a divorce attorney’s office for the first time. Since we’re getting closer to the second divorce season of the year, let’s look at what we know about divorce during the summer and how you can prepare yourself if you think it may happen to you.
Sociologists discovered the biannual pattern of divorces when they studied the number of petitions filed in Washington from 2001 to 2015. Anecdotal evidence from divorce attorneys around the country indicates that the uptick in divorce twice a year is not an isolated occurrence.
Many speculate that there are a couple of reasons why divorces tend to rise during the summer. First, summer is usually when couples have time off together. A couple with an already strained relationship may see their marriage totally fracture when they’re suddenly faced with each other without the buffer of their work hours.
In addition, couples with children may have been holding off filing for divorce until the summer months so that they don’t upset the kids during the school year. It’s not unusual for parents to hesitate to file for divorce because of the effect it might have on their children.
So, what should you do if you know your marriage is troubled, but you don’t know if a divorce is where you’re headed or not?
Well, the experts say that you shouldn’t wait to get advice. It’s far better to learn about your divorce options before the first piece of paperwork gets filed. Similarly, it may also be the best time to schedule a meeting with a financial advisor (so that you have a clear picture of how divorce will affect your income and assets) and a therapist (so that you can sort out your real feelings and desires).