We’ve reached that time of the year again of “out with the old and in with the new”. Well-intended resolutions have been made concerning exercise, diet, alcohol, and caffeine consumption. The media often report on the alleged January rush to the divorce Courts and often refer to the first working day of the year or the first working Monday of the year as being Divorce Day, or January as being divorce month. This is the day/month when family lawyers report a surge in divorce enquiries because of people spending time with their partners over the Christmas and New Year period.
Why is there an increase in divorce enquiries in January?
There is a multitude of reasons why people wait until January. It is often the case that one person may be struggling with the marriage before the holiday season. If they have children, the holidays are supposed to be a magical time, so they commit to giving the kids one last happy holiday as a family. By January, if it’s still not working, they know it’s time to move on.
The holidays are also a time when emotions run high and if you are unhappy or angry in your marriage, the holidays may push those feelings to the breaking point.
However, it’s not all doom and gloom.
A new start
The end of a marriage also means the start of a new life chapter. If you have struggled during the previous year then to come to terms with your separation, or are starting a year newly separated, you may be wondering what the New Year has in store for you.
Is it possible to even think that when one door closes, another may open?
Communicate and resolve separation disputes
For divorcing and divorced couples, one of the best New Year resolutions you can make is to resolve conflict with your ex-spouse or partner. Dealing with a difficult ex-partner can be very discouraging and frustrating. Attempts to foster a working relationship for the sake of the children may prove a thankless task.
The rewards for you and your children can be significant. What parents do during and after a separation or divorce (e.g., how they parent, how they handle their emotions, how they relate to each other and work together) is the key to their children’s resilience in coping with their parent’s separation or divorce. Research has shown that it is not the divorce but the way you divorce that impacts children.
Good communication is especially important for parents who want to provide the most ideal transition for their children and keep their families intact. One way to achieve favourable communication is to dedicate yourself to co-parenting and the compromises that come with forming a healthy relationship with your ex-spouse.
Stop looking back and start looking forward!
How Nelsons can help
Julia Kolomiiets is an Associate in our expert Family Law team, which is ranked in Tier One in the independently researched publication, The Legal 500. Julia specialises in private family law, advising on separation and divorce, including financial settlements and arrangements for children, and domestic abuse.
If you are suffering domestic abuse and would like some advice on the steps you can take, then please contact our team in Derby, Leicester or Nottingham on 0800 024 1976 or via our online form. We will be happy to discuss your circumstances in more detail and give you more information about the services that we can provide.
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