Divorce Day – myth or reality

The first working Monday of the New Year is often referred to as “divorce day”. A day when family lawyers are supposed to see an increase in enquiries, after the stresses of a family Christmas and a resolve to makes changes due to the start of a new year. This year divorce day is technically Monday 10^th January 2022. But is that a myth or a reality?

Having been a family lawyer for 16 years, you do get used to trends and it is correct that 3 hours into the first working day back, after Christmas closing, we have received a lot of calls and emails concerning new cases and the children are not back at school yet. That usually leads to a busier day when parents have less to juggle with the children being back at school.

Most law firms close between Christmas and New Year and therefore you would expect a high volume of enquiries on your return. In my view there is no such thing as “divorce day”, we just brace ourselves for a busy month at the start of a new calendar year. Traditionally January sees a higher than average number of enquiries. That is usually due to the New Year, new start and the reluctance of families to bring about disruption before Christmas. However, this trend does not always follow and 2020 was a prime example where there were no trends or discernible patterns that year. From speaking to clients, they could not face another lockdown with their spouse but could face the tough decision to separate because it seemed that the whole country was in freefall. As children were being home-schooled for much of that year, there was never an “ideal” time for parents to take that step and find the emotional strength to call a lawyer so we remained busy throughout the year.

Making the decision to commence divorce proceedings or leave a long-term relationship is never an easy one no matter what time of the year. Each case is very different in terms of the reasons why the relationship has broken down, not all separations are acrimonious, and some couples come to us merely to address the formalities.

When choosing a solicitor, it is important to look for someone who is Resolution accredited. Their approach will be conciliatory, and you should be given plenty of alternatives to the court route, unless the case dictates urgent intervention by the Court. At IBB law we offer fixed cost meetings and will provide costs estimates at that meeting. Where relevant we will also put you in touch with our experienced financial advisors at IBB Wealth who can also help you to navigate through the financial aspects of your separation.  Finally, we will also cater for your emotional well-being by considering whether a referral to our panel of Divorce Coaches is something you would benefit from.

At IBB we understand that this is an incredibly sensitive and difficult time and you need to feel that you can openly discuss your circumstances and trust in the advice. We are committed to the client journey and being a full-service law firm means we can get you instant access to other specialist lawyers whether that is to execute a new Will, consider Trust assets or advice regarding Company assets.

Speak to our Family Law Experts

Should you wish to discuss anything regarding the divorce process, children, the marital finances or separation if unmarried then please contact Jolene Hutchison or another member of the family team at IBB. You could also access our online advice.

For more information on IBB’s Wealth Management Service please click here.