No two married couples are alike. Accordingly, it makes sense that the reasons couples would decide to end a marriage would vary. Regardless of why a couple pursues a divorce, a recent study finds there are some similarities when it comes to when those filings are likely to come. Specifically, the study found that the months of March and August are the most common for this to happen.
The Study
The study specifically looked at the number of filings for divorce that occurred during a 14 year period in Washington State. Though the data used in the study was not gathered from Alabama, the reasons experts provide for the trend can be applied throughout the nation.
“Domestic Ritual Calendar”
A coauthor of the study sites a “domestic ritual calendar” as being responsible for the pattern. Under this theory, among other things, the following factors may influence when couples, who are unhappy in their marriages, decide to legally end the relationship:
- The winter holidays
- The start of a new year
- Tax season
- Summer vacations
While statistically, March and August may see more divorce filings than the rest of the year, of course, people do decide to file for divorce the other 10 months of the year. If you are considering filing for divorce, regardless of when or why you do so, there are multiple issues that will need to be resolved. At times, a couple will reach a settlement together. However, this is not always the case. In either situation, working with a knowledgeable lawyer who understands not only the importance of securing a solid financial settlement, but when children are involved-a good custody arrangement as well-is vital.
