The holiday season is gearing up — but you’re unlikely to feel the spirit of the season very deeply when you’re caught in an unhappy marriage.
Should you file for divorce now or wait until after the start of the new year? Ultimately, you have to make the call, but here are some of the reasons people choose to wait:
- They don’t want the additional stress or expense right now. The holiday season tends to be both expensive and chaotic enough. Adding a divorce — along with all that entails — can be overwhelming emotionally, physically and financially.
- They don’t want to create a permanently unhappy association with the holidays. The day you announce your divorce is automatically going to become a significant date in your life. You may simply not want to associate this time of year with your breakup.
- They worry about how it will affect their family’s holiday. If you have kids, you may not want to disrupt their lives during a period that is supposed to be joyful. Even if you don’t, you simply may not want to be the biggest topic of conversation at every family gathering.
- They want more time to gather up documents and make a plan. Perhaps the best reason people wait is that they simply need some time to start collecting important papers regarding the marital assets and look around for places to move. They may also want more time to consult with an attorney about their options before making any announcements.
Should you wait? Nobody but you can decide. If you’re struggling with the decision, however, it may be time to get more information about the divorce process.