Divorce Filings Have Sudden Spike Each August

 Posted on August 17, 2018 in Divorce

Outside of March, August is the most common month for people to get divorced. A 2016 study compiled the number of divorce filings per month from 2001 to 2015. Divorce filings reached their highest point of the year in March, immediately dropped for the next few months and suddenly spiked again in August before declining for the rest of the year. The study does not explain why divorces suddenly rose up again in August because the data does not include the reasons for divorces. However, social scientists have speculated several possible causes.

1. The End of the Summer Break: The summer is an important time for families to do enjoyable activities together while their children are on break from school. Parents who are considering divorce may delay their decision to avoid ruining this time for their children. The parents may also be optimistic that family bonding activities may repair their relationship. Unfortunately, spending more time with someone you do not get along with can sometimes make a relationship worse. By the end of the children’s summer break, the parents no longer feel obligated to stay together.
2. Start of the School Year: Filing for divorce at the same time that the children are beginning a new school year seems like poor timing. The children will be upset and distracted at a time when they should be focused on school. However, it is easier for parents to create a consistent parenting plan when the children’s schedules are structured around their school time. Having the children in school also puts less pressure on the parents to find childcare while they negotiate their divorce.
3. Avoiding the Holidays: People consider divorcing during the December holiday season to be socially unacceptable. By divorcing in August, the spouses put some time between the divorce filing and the holidays. The data on the monthly divorce filings supports this theory. After August, the number of monthly divorce filings drop sharply and reach the lowest point of the year in November and December.
4. Tax Filing Status: If a divorce is not completed by Dec. 31, the spouses are considered married for the entire next tax year. Divorced spouses who were still married during a tax year can complete their tax return as married filing jointly or married filing separately. They do not have the option of filing as a single head of household, which would give them access to certain tax credits and deductions. It is possible to complete a divorce that was started in August before the end of the year, but starting in later months makes it increasingly unlikely.

Summer of Lost Love

If you have decided to divorce your spouse, you need an experienced lawyer to represent you. A Kane County divorce attorney at Goostree Law Group can help you throughout the divorce process. To schedule a free consultation, call 630-584-4800.

Source:

https://www.divorcemag.com/blog/5-tips-for-parents-who-file-for-divorce-in-august/