Why do divorce filings tend to spike in the summertime?
Summertime is typically thought of as a carefree season to swim, barbeque, and soak in the sun. However, summer is also associated with a little know phenomenon—a divorce spike. During the summer months, children are out of school and many families will travel. For some couples, these added stressors might be the push that ultimately leads to divorce. Our Midland, Texas divorce lawyers explore the summer divorce trend and what steps you can take if you may be headed for divorce this summer below.
August Is a Top Divorce Month
Research completed by the University of Washington and presented by the American Sociological Association reveals that during the months of August and September, divorce filings have consistently ticked up between the years 2001 and 2015. Both August and March have some similarities. These months represent months when families spend more time together inside the house and on travels, as August is when school is out for the summer and March is typically Spring Break time.
While a healthy marriage will typically be unaffected by things like school vacations and time together indoors, a marriage on the rocks may find itself pushed to the brink. Couples who are already experiencing marital discord may be wise to start to research divorce in their home state. Now is the time to start to become knowledgeable about your rights and perhaps even begin gathering some documents.
Preparing for Divorce
You will want to start by finding out the basic divorce laws in your state. In the state of Texas, divorce can be a lengthy process. Your divorce will not be finalized for a minimum of 60 days after the petition is filed. Should you and your spouse disagree on some central issues, it is possible that the divorce could take closer to a year.
The state of Texas is a community property state, which means that property and debt acquired during the marriage will need to be divided between the spouses, while separate property will remain the separate property of the spouse who owned it. You can prepare for a divorce starting with assessing what property will be deemed community property and what will revert to each spouse. Make a list of your debts and assets. Bring this list to your divorce attorney, who will provide you with a wealth of information.