Divorce Month: Why January Becomes the Season of Separation
Friday, September 5, 2025.
The holidays are over. The decorations sag, the bills arrive, and many couples quietly decide: this marriage has run its course.
Welcome to January—often called Divorce Month.
Every year, family lawyers and financial advisors see a surge in inquiries once the calendar flips. Barron’s reports that advisors are often the first stop—sometimes even before lawyers—because divorce is as much about money as it is about emotion (Barron’s Advisor, 2025).
Why January?
Divorce filings spike after the holidays for a few predictable reasons:
The “let’s get through December” effect. Couples delay until after the season to preserve family rituals.
New Year, new life. January carries symbolic weight: a clean slate, a chance to reset.
Holiday stress as a stress test. Financial strain, in-law drama, and family overload push existing cracks into full view.
By the time the New Year’s confetti hits the floor, many have already made their decision.
The Financial Realities of Divorce
Financial planners recommend a few practical starting points (Barron’s Advisor, 2025; Dew, 2020):
Take Inventory. Collect records of assets, debts, retirement accounts, and insurance. Knowledge is leverage.
Protect Credit. Close or freeze joint accounts to prevent surprises.
Separate Finances. Open an individual bank account. Start building your own emergency fund. Independence begins before the ink is dry.
Plan for Taxes and Housing. Who keeps the house? Who claims the children? These decisions shape the next chapter.
Build a Team. Beyond a lawyer, consider a financial advisor, mediator, or therapist. Divorce is where balance sheets meet heartbreak.
The Emotional Ledger
Here’s the truth: money and emotion are pretty much inseparable.
Couples argue about finances more than almost anything else (Dew, 2020). Divorce magnifies those conflicts—but paradoxically, financial clarity can bring emotional relief.
I’ve watched clients arrive in tears and leave steadier after something as simple as opening their own bank account or reviewing their credit. Control calms. Organizing money isn’t just logistical—it’s emotional self-care.
Divorce also stirs grief, fear, and sometimes relief. Research shows that while divorce is often stressful, some folks experience long-term gains in well-being once they stabilize emotionally and financially (Amato, 2010).
The Uneven Cost of Ending
Divorce doesn’t hit everyone equally.
Wealthier couples may wrestle over investments and vacation homes; others fight over who keeps the reliable car.
Women, especially those who paused careers for caregiving, often face steeper financial setbacks (Smock et al., 2022).
Ending a marriage always restructures money—but the weight doesn’t fall evenly across gender, class, or circumstance.
How to Think About Divorce in January
If Divorce Month has you staring at your own relationship, a few guideposts help:
Slow down. Gather documents before making irreversible moves.
Protect yourself financially without punishing your partner—especially if you’ll be co-parenting.
See financial planning as part of healing. Money is oxygen; without it, recovery is harder.
A Note on Perspective
The phrase Divorce Month makes it sound like a crisis, but it isn’t always.
For some, divorce is the healthiest choice—a chance to end chronic conflict and rebuild stability.
Research suggests that children often fare better in two calmer households than in one filled with chronic tension (Amato, 2010).
Less sex, less affection, or financial battles don’t always spell disaster—but when they do, separation can be an act of care, not collapse.
January may bring divorce, but it can also bring clarity.
When handled with care—financially and emotionally—an ending can feel less like failure and more like recalibration.
Love may fade, but security, dignity, and a future you can count on are still worth investing in.
FAQ: Divorce Month and Financial Planning
Why do so many divorces happen in January?
Couples delay until after the holidays, then act on long-simmering decisions. January feels like a natural reset.
What financial steps should I take first?
Gather documents, protect your credit, and open an individual account. These moves create a foundation for your next chapter.
Is January really busier for lawyers and advisors?
Yes. Family attorneys, mediators, and financial planners consistently report a January spike in calls.
Does divorce always ruin your finances?
Not always. Divorce restructures finances, but with planning and support, many people recover—and sometimes thrive.
Final thoughts
If you’re contemplating divorce this upcoming January, don’t navigate it alone.
Start small: gather your financial documents, check your credit, and open your own account.
Then reach out—to a financial advisor who can steady your numbers, a lawyer who can clarify your rights, and a therapist who can help you carry the emotional weight. I can help with that part.
And if you’re not fully sure divorce is the right step?
Given the gravitas of your decision, consider one last conversation.
Perhaps you’ll consider Discernment Counseling or a commitment to a Last Shot Couples Therapy Retreat. Science-based couples therapy may help you separate in good faith—or, sometimes, rediscover a reason to stay.
Because endings don’t always have to mean collapse.
With the right guidance, Divorce Month can be less about breaking down—and more about building whatever comes next, whether that’s a stronger partnership or a healthier separation.
Be Well, Stay Kind, and Godspeed.
References
Amato, P. R. (2010). Research on divorce: Continuing trends and new developments. Journal of Marriage and Family, 72(3), 650–666. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2010.00723.x
Barron’s Advisor. (2025, January). Divorce Month: What couples should know about money and separation.Retrieved from https://www.barrons.com
Dew, J. (2020). The association between financial issues and divorce. Family Relations, 69(2), 313–329. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12401
Smock, P. J., Manning, W. D., & Porter, M. (2022). Economic consequences of divorce and cohabitation dissolution: A review. Annual Review of Sociology, 48, 361–382. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-soc-090221-022838