Q: Is a New Year’s resolution to get a divorce really a thing?
Perhaps the most popular New Year’s resolution every year is to lose weight and get healthier. Surely spikes in gym memberships, home exercise equipment purchases, and weight loss program registrations attest to the popularity of this goal. But there is another resolution many make at New Year’s and it, too, involves losing a lot of weight – – as much as 100, 200, even 300 or more pounds. As in the weight of a soon-to-be former spouse.
Phoenix divorce attorneys know that the phenomenon of the “New Year’s resolution divorce” has been around forever and this year is no different.
Why wait until the New Year to get divorced?
There are many reasons couples wait to get divorced until after the New Year, including but not limited to:
- the universal feeling of “new year, new life” that commonly drives all life-changing New Year’s resolutions,
- avoiding upsetting the children before the holidays,
- affairs are reported “often discovered around the holidays”,
- economic setbacks and financial problems are often highlighted during the holidays,
- stress is higher and tempers are often shorter during the holidays.
And, this year in particular, the additional stress of COVID and its associated isolation will certainly drive more people to divorce. Nothing says “let’s untie the knot” louder than being locked down together in a small space for months– especially if the relationship had problems beforehand. In fact, Covid might be the reason why many people got a jumpstart on uncoupling by calling with divorce inquiries even before 2020 ended.
Issues to work out in a divorce
If you’re considering a divorce, it’s ideal to try to amicably work out with your spouse the bigger issues that need to be resolved in a divorce, if possible. These include, but are not limited to:
- Dividing the marital assets,
- Addressing any spousal maintenance/alimony, and
- Addressing co-parenting after divorce. That means working out child support as well as child custody and visitation issues, known in Arizona as “legal decision making and parenting time”.
If you are considering getting divorced in 2021, or have been served with divorce papers, or if you would like more information about the divorce process, the family law experts at Cohen Family Law can help you. Contact us today for a free consultation.
From our office in Phoenix, we represent clients throughout Arizona in all aspects of family law. We pride ourselves in providing high-quality, affordable, and compassionate legal services while advocating for our clients as they navigate the most challenging times of their lives on the way to a brighter future.
