Divorces Spike in Early Spring, Late Summer

Divorce lawyers are taking a little break right now. No, they’re not vacationing on an island. They’re just preparing for the wave of divorce filings that will likely hit their offices in a couple months’ time.

While January is known as “Divorce Month” because many couples tend to call it quits after the holidays, divorce lawyers see another surge two more times in the year. Divorce filings hit peaks in early spring and late summer as well.

While people can file for divorce any time of the year, many lawyers find marriage dissolution to be a seasonal business. It’s often compared to the rush CPAs face come Tax Day in April.

Divorce lawyers see the same thing every year, no matter what state they’re looking at. Those who have been in business for 25 or 30 years or longer have numbers back up this trend of two waves.

But what is bringing about these trends? Kids. Many who divorce are people with children, so it makes sense that they are scheduling divorces for a time that’s less disruptive. Once the holidays are over, there’s usually spring break to contend with. After that comes family vacations during the summer when school is out. Once the vacations are over, though, unhappily married couples will call a lawyer before the new school year begins. So it’s a sort of a wave based on life events.

Outside of those times, families tend to be bonding and divorce filings tend to decrease by 30% to 35%. During the holidays, those numbers may climb to 50%. Studies also indicate this same pattern. A 2016 study from the University of Washington showed that divorces consistently peaked in March and August.

Studies also show that divorces are dictated by a domestic ritual calendar that revolves around summer and winter holidays. People tend to have huge expectations during the holidays, despite past disappointments. They want to focus on anticipation or the opportunity for a new beginning or a new start. A cycle of optimism keeps couples hanging on for at least a few more months.

However, some experts don’t believe that couples hold out on splitting up over sentimental reasons. They don’t think it’s entirely accurate that divorces peak in March because it’s right after joint tax returns are filed, or every August because it’s the end of the summer. Many states have specific waiting periods before you can even serve the other party. Plus, studies show that more than one-third of married people have been thinking about divorce for at least two years.

Seek Legal Help

Divorce tends to happen in waves, but if you’re done with your marriage, there’s no need to wait. Start the process at a time where you’re ready to move on.

Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyer Edward J. Jennings, P.A. can guide you through the process and help make this stressful time a little easier. Schedule a consultation today by calling 954-764-4330 or filling out the online form.

Source:

npr.org/2025/06/05/nx-s1-5415880/divorce-months-seasons-why