Stressed couples are urged not to make any hasty decisions over divorce following a fractious festive season. The first working Monday of the New Year - this time falling on January 10 following Scotland’s long bank holiday weekend last week - is often dubbed Divorce Day.
While that day can be seen as a trigger for change following festive season pressures - it’s often an issue they see develop throughout the month, building as Christmas bills start coming through.
Over a number of years there has been significantly more internet searches regarding divorce in early January. In fact, more than twice the number of people see divorce-related information online during January when compared to any other month of the year.
Jennifer Gallagher, a Partner in our Family Law team at Lindsays, says that while the extra strain can prove a tipping point, major life changes should not be made while tensions are high, even if divorce may ultimately prove the best route for some.
She said: “People who get in touch with us early in the New Year have generally spent months - sometimes years - thinking about divorce, but fears of upsetting families, being alone or facing a challenging financial situation have put them off.
"Although it is a happy time for many, relationships which are already fragile are more likely to buckle under the added pressure and expense that Christmas brings.
“It can be the breaking point for many - especially coming on top of the stresses that coronavirus continues to bring to all of our lives.”
The number of divorces in Scotland has been slowly decreasing from about 13,400 in 1985 to 7,800 in 2019 - a drop linked to a downward trend in the number of marriages. The 7,883 divorces in 2019-20 was 7% higher than in 2018-19.
Lindsays lawyers find that - in many cases - a return to the normal routine after the holidays can reduce the stress, providing a chance to resolve their issues.
Jennifer added: “For some couples, separation and divorce will be the right thing.
“Whatever the situation, however, our experience is that cool heads are crucial at the beginning of what can be a very difficult process.
"It’s important not to make any hasty decisions when tensions are heightened and it can often be useful to talk to someone outwith the family.”
Lawyers in our Family Law team work with organisations including Consensus Scotland and CALM Scotland to offer relationship and mediation advice. For more details go to www.consensus-scotland.com and www.calmscotland.co.uk.
The above article was published in The Evening Telegraph