Texas couples who were contemplating ending their marriage in December may go through with it in January. That is because the first month of the year is a notoriously popular time for married couples to call it quits. Studies show divorce filings rise from December to January, and people start searching for ‘divorce” on Google more than ever.
Many people in the legal community call January ‘divorce month” because so many people file their paperwork at that time. Though there may be some good reasons divorcing spouses choose January, many people think that couples are simply delaying the end of their marriage over the holidays. While families are busy getting together for celebrations, it may not be an ideal time to start the divorce process. Couples with children may also not want to let the kids know about the divorce until after Christmas.
The holiday season can also be a stressful time for a couple whose marriage was already in trouble. During the holidays, they might travel to see their extended family and spend money on presents that they can’t afford. By January, people may realize that they don’t want to go through another holiday season with their spouse.
Texas is a community property state. That means that everything the couple owned during their marriage is divided 50-50, unless there was a prenuptial agreement in place that says otherwise or if a settlement can be reached. An attorney may be able to help a divorcing spouse to ensure that all marital property is accounted for so that a legal division of the assets can take place.