There is never a great time to separate as a family, but Christmas can be one of the hardest. That is why many families decide to have “one last Christmas” together for the sake of their children or to see if they can work out their differences.
Children can be impacted by relationship breakdown and creating the memory of one last Christmas together can, if handled well, give them happiness and fond times to look back on. Any parent who puts their children’s happiness first over the festive period should be commended for ensuring that their children are a priority.
For some, spending increased time together when relationships are fraught is hard and not joyous at all. Christmas can often be a stressful time and can bring about disagreements that do not usually arise. Arguments can happen about all sorts of things like who is coming for dinner, whether the other party contributed enough towards gifts, etc. The list could be endless.
New year, new start
In the run-up to Christmas, we see a steep decline in the number of people starting divorce proceedings. This is normally followed by a surge of clients wanting to move their separation forward and start proceedings in the New Year. Just because people are not issuing divorce proceedings before Christmas it does not mean they are not thinking about it.
It is true that during the first few weeks or months after the process of divorce starts, things can become tense and awkward at home. If shielding the children from animosity during the festivities is an option then it deserves significant consideration.
In certain situations, separating and/or seeking legal advice should not be delayed. For example, if there is domestic violence, if one parent is trying to leave the jurisdiction with the children, or if there are concerns that the other party is hiding assets. This list is not exhaustive.
The timing of a separation and/or a divorce is personal for each person. Obtaining legal advice from an experienced family lawyer is a good idea if you find yourself in one of these situations. There are tools and resources available such as mediation or a relationship counsellor to assist you through this difficult time.
How Nelsons can help
Emma Davies is a Partner in our Family Law team. Emma specialises in divorce and financial settlements which involve complex issues and substantial assets. She also advises on pre and post nuptial agreements, cohabitation agreements and separation agreements along with private law Children Act disputes. Emma is a qualified collaborative practitioner.
If you are considering separating or divorcing before the festivities or wondering whether to wait and would like some advice, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss your circumstances in more detail and give you more information about the services that our family law solicitors can provide along with details of our hourly rates and fixed fee services.
Please contact us on 0800 024 1976 or via our online enquiry form.