Why are divorce lawyers so busy in January?

CTV’s Krista Simpson speaks to some legal experts about why there is a jump in the number of people filing for divorce each January.

January tends to be a particularly busy season for lawyers and other professionals who help couples navigate separation and divorce.

“It seems to me that the new year is a time of change. And we do see more people calling our office, asking for initial consultations to discuss the preliminary steps that they would need to take if they were considering separating,” Lorrie Stojni, a partner at Giffen Lawyers who specializes in family law, said.

Stojni said calls can jump by as much as 25 per cent at the start of the year, and noted it’s not surprising that inquiries follow the holidays.

“I think that a lot of family law issues are brewing for a long time, and in our experience, holidays are times of stress,” Stojni said. “After that stress has been experienced, people could be deciding to make alternative arrangements for their life and for their children.”

January is also a busy time of year for therapists and counsellors.

“A lot of people wait for their benefits to kick in again. It’s also a time where the weather is gray and people are not always feeling the best,” Tammy Benwell, a licensed therapist at Bliss Counselling, said.

Benwell sees couples at various stages in their relationship: ones who want to learn new skills to repair their relationship, some who know they’ve reached their ending point, and also those who are still trying to figure out what path they want to take.

“It’s very common for some people to even say, ‘I don’t know what I want to do. But I know that this doesn’t feel good,’” Benwell said.

For those who do decide to separate, Stojni said her advice is to get information on the legal framework, know the details of your financial situation and have a strong support network.

“Whether that is family that you can lean on, or even seeking out a counselor or a therapist to talk to because a lot of emotions come up,” Stojni said.

“Even having that initial call with a lawyer is difficult because you’re talking to a stranger about intimate and personal details of your life.”

Benwell said therapy can play an important part in navigating the next steps in a relationship.

“The hardest part about most of us and our intimate relationships is that a lot of us are working to try and heal parts of ourselves in our relationships. And unfortunately, even if you proceed with a divorce, those parts are not going to be fixed. And so the reality is, there’s a strong likelihood that you may repeat similar patterns even in another relationship. And so, that’s where therapy can be helpful.”

While January may be the busiest time of year when it comes to inquiries about separation and divorce, Stojni said the next most popular time is September, another month that can follow holidays and is associated with change and renewal.