Filing for a Divorce During the Holidays?

Deciding whether to end your marriage is never an easy task. It’s certainly more taxing to do so during the holidays. While family and friends gather to celebrate what should be the most festive time of year, going through a divorce certainly isn’t at the top of anyone’s Christmas list.

Despite those concerns, we want to help make your decision a tad bit easier. Here are common reasons filing for a divorce during the holidays may be the best solution.

1. They can’t stand to spend one more holiday with their spouse. Faking civility with your spouse in your own home is hard enough, but faking it in public can be downright impossible. With the holidays comes social gatherings and situations, and people decide they can’t expose themselves to these occasions for one more year. Whether it is a spouse who drinks too much, speaks negatively about the other spouse at parties, or is completely antisocial, a decision is made that enough is enough.

2. They can’t stand to spend one more holiday with their spouse’s family. Every family has its own issues. Although spouses may be willing to put up with their extended family’s “issues” when they are getting along, their willingness to acquiesce when they are on the verge of divorce is zero.

3. It will make a difference in the divorce. Most jurisdictions have a waiting period before a divorce can be finalized. If you live in a state that has a one-year waiting period, you may not want to “wait” until 2014 to get divorced. Likewise, if you live in a state where it is customary to get temporary orders, there may be a good reason to get the divorce and temporary orders on file before the end of the year. Another consideration may be the date that the marital estate is valued, as that date will vary based on your jurisdiction. Thus, if the valuation date in your jurisdiction is the date the divorce action is filed, and you have specific reasons you want the valuation date to be sooner rather than later, 2012 may be the year.

4. Their spouse gives lousy holiday gifts anyway. Don’t kid yourself. If there is trouble in a relationship, people do think about the gift they will receive if they just stick it out. While the gift will obviously not keep the relationship together, it can most definitely be a factor in the decision of whether to file for divorce before or after the holidays.

Still having second thoughts? Head over to Huffington Post to find three additional reasons for why it may be best to hold off on scheduling a meeting with a divorce attorney.

(Photo: Huff Post/Shutterstock)