Will 2020 be the year you file for a Texas divorce?
A surge in divorces is a known phenomenon beginning each January.
Some people make the decision to divorce quickly, perhaps in response to a specific event. For others, the decision may take a long time to become clear. Either way, it is well known that divorce filings rise sharply in the early stages of a new year. Talking to a lawyer, serving papers on a spouse, jump starting stalled divorce negotiations or filing the divorce petition in court may be the subject of a new year’s resolution – and a step toward a fresh start.
The decision should not be made lightly, of course, as it is life changing, but it can also be the right choice for some. After marriage or individual counseling, it may become apparent that the union is not functioning in a healthy way or sometimes, people just grow apart. Maybe the kids have all gone away to college or otherwise flown the coop and returning to being a family of two is not the same anymore.
According to MarketWatch, the president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers reports a spike in divorce business every January of about 25 to 30%.
Survive Divorce reported in Nov. 2019 that the U.S. divorce rate is about 40%, with some common reasons for divorce being:
- Money: Is one spouse comfortable taking on debt, but not the other? Has a job loss put strain on the household? Has one party spent money secretly or hidden assets?
- Lack of intimacy
- Infidelity
- Abuse: Spousal abuse may be physical, sexual, verbal or emotional.
- Incompatibility
- Physical appearance
- Addiction: Addictive behavior can be devastating to a family and may include addiction to alcohol, drugs, gambling, shopping, sex, pornography, food or other types.
- Marrying young
- Unrealistic expectations
- Communication problems
- Controlling personality types
- Different parenting styles
Whether you see yourselves in this list or if your marital problems are unique, you may be able to work through them to a better place in your marriage, perhaps with professional help. But a realistic assessment of the situation may lead you in different directions – and separating or divorcing may be a healthy choice.
Speaking with a family lawyer about the various options available for working through divorce can be helpful in working toward the decision whether to divorce.
The attorneys at Mysti Mysti Murphy Law Firm in San Antonio, Texas, represent clients in the surrounding areas in all matters related to divorce.