If you’ve noticed divorce seeming to come up more often lately, you may be wondering if it’s just a coincidence. It may not be. Researchers and family law professionals have long explored whether divorce follows seasonal patterns, with certain periods of the year experiencing a rise in filings.
January, for example, is often referred to as “Divorce Month,” as some couples see the new year as an opportunity for a fresh start. A similar trend was found in research from the University of Washington, which examined 14 years of divorce data across several states, including Arizona, and identified a notable increase in filings as summer ended.
So, what makes this time a significant turning point for families questioning the future of their marriage?
Why August Can Lead to More Divorce Filings
- Last-Chance Vacation: It’s common for families to see summer as a chance to escape their everyday lives and reconnect, especially when there’s no school. For some, that experience can help strengthen their relationship. For others, it highlights challenges that a vacation cannot fix, leaving them disappointed when things don’t improve as they had hoped.
- Keep Summer Normal: Parents intentionally postpone major decisions until their children return to school or leave for college, allowing them to preserve a sense of stability before making a significant disruption to the family dynamic.
- Financial Stress: Additional expenses from vacations, childcare, camps, activities, and travel can put added pressure on a household. For partners already experiencing financial tension, these costs can intensify disagreements and bring underlying issues into focus.
- Existing Marital Problems: Instead of providing a break from marital problems, spending more time together can sometimes bring existing concerns into focus. With fewer distractions from their normal schedules, unresolved disagreements or tension can become harder to overlook.
- Time to Reflect: Summer can create opportunities to step away and reflect on the state of a marriage. That space to think gives some spouses greater clarity about what they want moving forward.
- Preparing for the Holidays: Parents may choose to begin the divorce process sooner rather than later, allowing their kids to adjust to the changes before the holiday season begins.
Navigating Divorce in Arizona With Shaffer Family Law
There is no perfect time to make such a difficult decision. The reality is that divorce rarely happens overnight. More often, a marriage reaches a breaking point after months or even years of ongoing struggles, such as poor communication, repeated conflict, emotional distance, feeling unappreciated, or unresolved challenges.
While there may be various reasons why divorce filings tend to increase as summer comes to a close, seasonal trends should not determine when or whether you choose to end your marriage. However, if you’ve made an effort to resolve your differences but nothing has changed, the transition into fall can be an opportunity to take a closer look at your circumstances and consider what you want for the future.
You don’t need to have all the answers before taking the next step. Understanding your options can help you make informed choices, protect your interests, and feel more prepared for what lies ahead. A consultation with Shaffer Family Law can provide guidance you can rely on as you navigate the legal process and determine the path that makes sense for your situation.
Call us at (480) 470-3030 or request your appointment online to start your new chapter with clarity and a clear plan.
Sources:
https://www.washington.edu/news/2016/08/21/is-divorce-seasonal-uw-research-shows-biannual-spike-in-divorce-filings/
https://www.businessinsider.com/why-divorce-rates-peak-in-august-2019-8