This spring, not only will you see a rise in bumblebees, pollen, and colorful plants blooming everywhere, but you will also see a massive rise in many unhappy couples calling it quits on their marriage.
The period from January through March each year sees a huge surge in divorce proceedings.
And March is among the busiest months.
March typically represents a month of emotional exhaustion from the holidays, financial strategy due to tax season, and a psychological urge to start anew. Here are some reasons why March seems to be the month when divorce proceedings peak annually.
The Holiday Trap
The end of the year is marked by plenty of family-oriented holidays, including Thanksgiving and Christmas. As a result, many couples may have placed their hope in the fact that these emotional times could revive the love that may have been lost in their marriage.
Couples tend to put off divorce during these times, hoping that their crumbling marriage may take a turn for the better once these happy times are over. Some believe that the magic of the season will spark the reconciliation needed to save the marriage.
However, as the holiday decorations are put away and the extended family members return home, the troubles that were present before the holidays return. The cold of winter may also keep couples dodging the inevitable. Just as the spring awakening occurs in nature, the desire to “get it over with” becomes more prevalent, making March a primary month for many couples to call it quits.
Approaching Tax Season
Aside from the holidays ending, there may be a much more pressing reason why couples are more commonly ending a marriage in March. Filing for divorce around this time gives the couple one more chance to file their taxes together, taking advantage of favorable tax brackets and standard deductions.
Another great advantage of filing for divorce at this time is that tax season forces individuals to submit their financial statements, which they must do anyway for the divorce proceedings. This allows each party to take inventory of their combined and individual assets.
The January Decision Delay
Although January is typically the official month when divorce filings surge and has become known as “divorce month,” the declaration rarely aligns with reality. Even if couples are ready to call it quits in January, paperwork delays and other issues may push the proceedings back to March.
All the steps in the divorce process may take six to eight weeks, and in some cases even longer. During this time, couples are busy deciding whether to get an attorney or settle using an arbitrator. They may also be gathering their assets, planning for the future, especially regarding who will get the house and how the children will be cared for once custody is granted.
Valentine’s Day may add another layer of complexity, as this day of love could reignite a final spark that could put an end to the pending divorce. However, most couples may continue to pursue divorce after this holiday, with everything culminating in March.
Spring Break
As basketball’s March Madness tournaments are underway, March Madness in divorce court is just beginning. Many couples find that March is the perfect time to start making the decision for divorce for several reasons at this time.
For one, spring break typically happens around this time, and it is the perfect opportunity to start planning how the divorce will affect the children. For instance, parents will need to decide whether their children will continue attending their current school or start the transfer process to another district.
It is also the perfect time because some parents may want to consider selling the family home and going their separate ways. March is the perfect time to put the home on the market so it can sell in time before the next school year begins.
Experienced Michigan Divorce Representation
Are you considering divorce and looking for trusted legal guidance? The family law and divorce attorneys at Rappleye & Rappleye P.C. in Jackson have been helping individuals and families navigate divorce and related family law matters for more than 60 years. Call today to schedule your free consultation.