Summer is a great time to take a vacation, catch up on some beach reads or, apparently, get divorced.
While divorce rates have been on the decline in recent years, they still tend to spike during the summer months, USA Today reported. According to a 2016 study conducted by sociologists at the University of Washington, August and March tend to be peak months for divorce filings. The researched identified the biannual peak after analyzing filings in Washington state between 2001 and 2015.
One reason for the increase in summertime splits could come down to the simple fact that spouses may be spending more time together during the summer. While it may seem like more quality time would bring a couple closer together, this might not always be the case, especially for a marriage that’s already on the rocks.
“If there are problems in the marriage, they often get exacerbated when couples spend more time together if things are not going well, and then we see that spike when they return to their routine,” said New Jersey and Pennsylvania-based attorney Jennifer Brandt.
Meanwhile, with the kids out of school and the stress of family vacations, the supposedly relaxing summer months can add increased strain to an already tense marriage.
On the bright(er) side, summer can be a good time for couples considering divorce to plan ahead and thoroughly explore their options. As New York divorce attorney Eric Wrubel told USA Today, summer can be a good time for spouses to reflect on their marriage and how they want to proceed.
“People overlook really figuring what they want,” he said. “They say they want a divorce and they want to do it and they’re ready, but they’re not because they don’t know the legal ramifications.”
If a couple decides to proceed with a divorce, summer can also provide a good opportunity to figure out logistics such as meeting with attorneys and taking stock of assets.
“You should start your divorce planning months before you want to get divorced,” Wrubel said. So if you’re considering a split, might as well get a head start and add divorce to your summer bucket list.
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