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Should divorce occur before or after the New Year?

On Behalf of | Dec 21, 2022 | Divorce

Timing can be a critical issue when two Pennsylvania spouses decide to go their separate ways. It is understandable that many spouses want to get the ball rolling right away once the decision has been made. However, especially when a year is winding to a close, there may be several reasons why waiting until the New Year to file for divorce might be beneficial.  

The holidays are a stressful time of year, even for couples whose marriages are intact. If marital problems are thrown into the mix, it is a recipe for disaster. This is one reason many spouses delay filing a divorce petition until the New Year. By doing so, end-of-year festivities may be less stressful.  

Children may be better able to cope with divorce after the New Year 

Thinking of the long-term that a parent and children will experience in connection with a divorce, delaying the filing of a petition until the holidays are over enables children to enjoy future holiday seasons without associating it with their parents’ divorce. If both parents are willing, it also may mean that the kids can enjoy a perhaps final holiday season with both parents under one roof. This will be a memory they can cherish as they move on in life and to adjust to their changing lives.  

Every spouse must determine what is best in his or her case 

One Pennsylvania spouse might find that waiting until after the New Year to file for a divorce is best because of tax benefits that may come from filing a joint tax return at the end of the year. Others might determine that sooner is better with regard to filing a divorce petition. Each set of spouses can review their situation, as well as the overall goals they each have in mind, then choose to file immediately or wait until after the first of the New Year.