How The Holiday Season Affects Marriages

 Posted on December 27, 2023 in Divorce and Holidays

While most people are greeting one another with “Happy Holidays,” there are some couples who are feeling not-so-jolly this season. The holiday season is meant to be a cheerful and joyous time to spend with family and friends. Unfortunately, not everyone feels the holiday spirit and may be experiencing more stress than bliss. The stress can be so overwhelming that it leads to divorce or separation once the festivities die down. An attorney can be an empathetic ear when thoughts of divorce plague your mind, serving as a guide and legal counsel on how best to approach the divorce process.

Reasons For a Holiday Divorce

Contemplating divorce on or around the holidays is much more common than you would think. January sees many couples spiraling as the holiday cheer turns to cold, bleak resentment. Often, couples waver in their commitment to one another long before the holidays arrive and simply choose to hold onto a marriage until the holidays come to a close.

Some of the more common reasons for a divorce following the holiday season include:

• Reaching a breaking point due to the stress incurred during the holidays.
• Reflecting on the marriage with family and friends gathered for the holidays.
• A resolution for one or both partners to focus on making themselves happy in the New Year with a fresh start.
• Holding onto the marriage until they qualify for a tax break in the following year.
• Using the holidays as a predetermined marriage marker for an impending divorce because the “time is right.”

Other common reasons for a divorce can include:

• Infidelity.
• Financial issues.
• High-conflict marriage or domestic abuse.
• Lack of communication.
• Lack of intimacy.
• Too young.
• Growing apart.
• Unrealistic expectations.

Legal Issues That Must Be Addressed in Divorce

Divorce comes with several legal issues both parties will have to address before the process can be complete. The top three issues include:

• The allocation of parental responsibilities - This issue is only important for couples who have children. The parents or a judge will determine who receives significant decision-making responsibilities for each child, as well as where they will reside and how much time each parent will spend with them. Cooperative parents can choose collaborative law to handle these matters before entering into a divorce. High-conflict couples would do well to proceed with traditional divorce litigation in all matters concerning the children and themselves.
• Spousal maintenance (alimony) - When there is an evident disparity in earning potential between a married couple, a judge may see fit to award maintenance payments from the higher earner to the lower earner to maintain their current living standards under marriage. However, spousal maintenance is not ordinarily indefinite and will usually only last for a set duration.
• The Division of Marital Assets - Illinois is an equitable distribution state that requires that marital assets be divided fairly and equitably. It is very rare for a 50/50 split to occur when dividing assets in Illinois. Still, the judge will divide all marital assets, property, and debts to be as amicable and fair to both parties as they deem appropriate.

Contact a DuPage County, IL Divorce Attorney

Complications can arise in even the most committed relationship. The pressures of the holidays can bring out the worst in a couple, which could spell doom once the new year rolls in. An experienced Aurora, IL divorce lawyer is essential to the divorce process. A skilled attorney, like one from the The Law Office of Matthew M. Williams, P.C., can provide ample advice and guidance for your unique situation. When your significant other turns into a Grinch, and you have finally had enough, do not hesitate to pick up the phone and dial 630-409-8184.