Time to make a change?
Rachel Bloxwich, an associate solicitor with our specialist family law team has put together a helpful insight into some of the trigger events that may lead to separation and divorce following the Christmas period:
Many people treat New Year as a time to reassess their lives, priorities and relationships. Often when there have been difficulties in a relationship for some time, January is the month people choose to make a fresh start for the year ahead. If there are children, many people choose to wait until the Christmas period is over before making the decision to go ahead with a divorce.
Time together – the reality of life is that most people work and have hectic schedules, which, in turn, means that couples rarely get to spend any meaningful time together. Couples are then thrust together for a few days and feel under great pressure to make everything perfect;
Busy lives – most people find it tough enough just coping with everyday life; when you add into the mix crowds, traffic and the pressures of cooking and entertaining, it can leave couples exhausted and irritable;
Relatives – in an effort to keep everyone happy people will spread themselves thin over the festive period; if tensions already exist then these can be exacerbated;
Financial – Christmas can often bring additional expenditure and pressure, culminating in potentially nasty financial shocks in January, especially if there are already ongoing financial difficulties;
Christmas is traditionally a time of joy to most people. For some couples, however, Christmas is a time of great pressure, and, for some families, will expose fault lines in relationships. Couples who may have co-existed with each other are forced to spend more time with each other, sometimes with relatives they do not get along with. This, along with it being a very expensive time of year, can lead to resentments coming to the fore. Couples often then reflect upon their lives together, where their relationship is going and what the New Year will hold for them.
We should therefore not be surprised then that the New Year leads to a surge in the numbers of couples who decide to end their marriage and start afresh.
Our advice is that couples need to be aware of the particular stresses that Christmas and New Year can cause; talking to your other half about issues that may cause stress and managing expectations can be the first step to overcoming relationship troubles.
In our experience, couples who come to see us in January often say that Christmas was just the icing on the cake and many say they have lived unhappily for a number of years.
At this point, what is required is good, sound legal advice to reassure couples of their options. Although inevitably we have to provide practical information about the law and procedure, couples are often looking for guidance as to how to separate with a minimum of upset and cost; early advice is therefore key to identifying the issues and agreeing how they are going to be resolved with as little disruption and hurt as possible, particularly if children are involved.
Bradley Haynes Law specialist family law team provide tailored advice to suit individual circumstances, including where there are jointly owned properties or business assets. Importantly, the firm can also advise on arrangements concerning children, where they are to live, maintenance and financial provision. We pride ourselves on offering vital services at prices people can afford. We can also help you to make a Will and deal with buying and selling property.
We appreciate that making a life changing decision to divorce has often taken a long time to reach. It is therefore vital that lawyers who guide couples through the process understand the legal, practical and emotional implications of such a choice.
For further information or to make an appointment please call us on 01905 900 919. We offer a free initial consultation to enable you to make an informed decision about your next steps.
This publication is intended for general guidance and represents our understanding of the relevant law and practice as at 6 January 2017. Specific advice should be sought for specific cases; we cannot be held responsible for any action (or decision not to take action) made in reliance upon the content of this publication.