Divorce is usually never the most pleasant experience for anyone, with some people choosing to file for it in hopes of separating from their partner as soon as possible. On the contrary, others decide to file for divorce at a certain time and play the waiting game until that specific time arrives. Regardless, did you know that a certain month is arguably the best one for a divorce in the UK? That month, of course, is none other than January. Why this specific month, you may ask? Well, it all comes down to a variety of reasons.
It comes after Christmas is over
The Christmas holidays are generally seen as a time meant for closeness and family time. It involves opening presents together, watching festive movies, etc. In other words, most couples prefer to not go their separate ways until this time period passes as they want their children to have a memorable time. Additionally, finding out that your parents are planning to file for divorce is almost guaranteed to crush essentially anyone’s spirits, preventing them from truly enjoying themselves. Therefore, the following month of January is a convenient time for most partners since it comes immediately after the joyful occasion of Christmas.
Brand-new year
A New Year means coming up with some New Year’s resolutions, which are goals someone hopes to accomplish sometime during the New Year. For certain people, this can mean putting an unstable relationship they are in behind and turning over a new leaf in the process. Furthermore, a New Year’s resolution might just be the catalyst required for some to move forward with the divorce that they have been contemplating for so long. And the month of January offers precisely that – a new beginning with fresh opportunities just waiting to be seized, taken advantage of, and fulfilled.
Tax Year coming to an end
Taxes, just like with divorce, must be filed for to gain any validity. With this in mind, it is worth noting that either partner can transfer assets to the other tax-free during the time of divorce if it is done before the tax year ends. If this is done after the tax year ending date has passed, the assets must also account for capital gains tax (CGT) on any notional gain the transferor makes. Moreover, since the tax year ends on April 5th, several couples seek to file for a divorce in January to get the process underway.
Emotions are more in-check
While the holidays are typically a happy time for most people, there are certain exceptions because not everyone experiences positive feelings during festivities. For instance, some individuals may find themselves becoming more emotional than usual. This can be due to being alone, loss of a loved one, etc. In January, however, most will have recovered from their potential emotional roller coasters using the spare time to heal. Then when the very first month of the year comes along, they will be ready to take on more responsibility as their emotions will be less likely to cloud their judgment.
Shopping sprees are finished
The holiday means shopping sprees, particularly for Christmas. The amount of money that can be spent in such a short amount of time adds up rather quickly, which could be devastating for your wallet. In addition, a spiteful spouse will be more inclined to go all-out in terms of spending as it will mean disaster for their future ex’s bank account. In January, the only major shopping that may be necessary is that for New Year’s. However, this occasion is not nearly as prestigious as Christmas, which means a lesser chance of a shopping spree occurring.
Alcohol and abusive relationships
Alcohol is often the culprit for people acting in a warped manner, as they are not able to think properly while under the influence. Because alcoholic beverages are usually a staple in most festive celebrations, many may find themselves drinking a bit too much and being more prone to abusing those around them, especially their loved ones. And for those getting abused in the relationship that they are in, they are at a much higher risk of having something worse than usual done to them should their partner pick up a spiked drink.
Losing feelings
Even though this is not always true for every couple, many may find themselves growing apart from one another as the end of the year comes around. A reason behind this might be due to the fact that Valentine’s Day, a day dedicated to expressing appreciation for those you love, falls at the very beginning of the year in February. Valentine’s Day makes people get a bunch of things from chocolates to flowers to show love for their spouse. Since there is not as much necessity to do this during other times of the year, couples’ feelings toward one another can end up changing.
Bonuses are of the essence
Last but not least, there is a chance for someone who waits until January to receive any year-end large amount of money that may originate from a partner’s profession.
