January seems to be the peak time for divorce. In the New Year we receive more enquiries than at any other time of the year and more and more couples now enter divorce proceedings in the post-Christmas period. The first Monday of January is now commonly known as D-day – ‘divorce day’.

There are likely to be many reasons for this. Couples who may have been experiencing problems for a while may have taken time to reflect during the Christmas break to consider how they feel and to talk things through with their spouse or civil partner. Parents may also not wish to upset their children unnecessarily and will simply wait until they are back in a settled routine at school before they consult a solicitor.

Previously the financial climate may have had a significant effect on separating couples, providing pressures and strains to a marriage or civil partnership that may not have been present previously. Other couples may choose to remain together as they believe that they simply cannot afford to live apart. This may lead to resentment and frustration for both parties. However, now that the financial climate is starting to recover, couples may feel that it is now the right time to go their separate ways.

Those in an unhappy marriage may also see the New Year as a fresh start and a time to move on if they are still unhappy. Perhaps those who have decided prior to Christmas that they wish to separate want to give their family one last Christmas together.

Hannah Bickley, Associate Director & Deputy Head of Family Law, comments:

“Christmas can be a busy, stressful and expensive time for a lot of families. Often when it should be a special time for families to get together, it can result in feuds and arguments which may come from underlying feelings for the need to separate from the spouse. We at Jackson Lees wish to make the separation process as quick and painless as possible for all parties involved, with particular focus on the children’s needs.

I appreciate how difficult it often is for my clients to come and seek advice as this is usually after one of the most difficult periods of their life. Often when my clients first come to see me they are extremely worried about the situation they find themselves in and I do my best to reassure them that everything will be ok. My clients trust me to find the best solution for them as quickly as possible.

I am a mother of two and I feel better equipped than ever to assist my clients as I understand what it is like to be a parent and have a family of my own. I greatly enjoy meeting new clients and I will always do my best to assist them in what is often a very difficult and traumatic time in their lives.”

If you require advice we have a team of empathetic, specialist family lawyers available to talk to. Please message us your enquiry or request a callback at your convenience today.