Happy New Year! Now is the time when people are working hard to keep the resolutions they’ve made for the year. For many individuals in Pennsylvania, that includes getting out of relationships that are bad for them. This is one reason why January has a high number of divorce filings — people simply want a fresh start.
According to reports, some divorce specialists have deemed January “Divorce Month” just because the number of filings seen this time of year is one-third higher than what divorce law attorneys see in other months. It is not only filings either; more people spend time searching the internet for divorce information in January than any other month. Other than getting the fresh start one desires, why else do people choose January to start divorce proceedings?
Have kids?
Divorce may be something you’ve been thinking about for a while, but you’ve worried about pulling the trigger since you have children. Many people wait until after the holidays to file, simply because they think it will be easier on the kids and not ruin what is supposed to be a fun time of year.
Some people also want to start the divorce process early in the year to make sure they can work out custody issues before the beginning of the next school year. Divorce usually takes at least several months, so if this is a concern, getting the process started sooner rather than later is wise.
Thinking about money?
There are some financial benefits associated with filing for divorce early in the year. It can change how you file taxes; it can also affect assets division — among other things. For example, if bonuses tend to come your way near year’s end, getting divorced before then can ensure that money is separate property rather than marital property and subject to division.
Fresh start, but not so fast
There is nothing wrong with wanting a fresh start at the beginning of a new year. Most people do. This does not mean there is a need to rush through the dissolution process, however. Rushing through a divorce can result in you walking away with settlement terms that may not fully suit your interests. Get your fresh start, but take your time working toward a divorce agreement that really works for you.