What is the story about?
January is the first month of the year, when people begin to reset everything. Social media is filled with 'New year, new me' stories, a time when resolutions and the need for change take centre stage. Amid all this, a realisation hits: the marriage they are in no longer fits the life they long to live.
We are not saying that; the data and divorce filings speak for themselves when cases spike dramatically in January. Even therapists believe that the idea of a new year is to create a sense of closure and a controlled exit strategy. According to many experts, January does not cause divorce, but debunks it. Meanwhile, some point out the nickname may be somewhat misleading, and January is often the starting point for divorce, not the finish line.
So what exactly is Divorce Month? Is January really a ‘divorce month’? And what do studies and experts say? We take a look.
Cosmopolitan reports that a landmark University of Washington study found that over the past few decades, monthly divorce filings rose by 33 per cent in January. During November and December, divorce filings drop by about 50 per cent; however, they soar dramatically as the new year begins. According to the same study, cases in Texas, US, increased drastically after the holiday season, with January to March witnessing the highest spike.
The Associate Professor Julie Brines and doctoral candidate Brian Serafini conducted the study and analysed divorce-filing data across several states from 2001 to 2015. According to them, the patterns are consistent and statistically meaningful. “Very robust from year to year, and very robust across counties," said Brines.
Approximately 25-30 per cent of divorce inquiries are received by family law attorneys nationwide each January, as per reports. In 2025, Semrush reported that search volume for the terms “divorce” and “how to get a divorce” increased significantly from December to January, according to Cosmopolitan. Experts also see financial concerns playing a vital role in marital breakdown.
While many claim that January is the definitive divorce month, some experts have refuted this claim. For some, the month is often the starting point for divorce, but not the finish line. The more accurate term for them is 'divorce season' rather than divorce month.
A founding partner of the Wilkinson and Finkbeiner law firm in San Diego, David K. Wilkinson, asserted, "The perceived rise in divorce filings in January could be related to slower times in November and December." Adding, “In my mind, it’s natural that January sort of just picks back up. The divorce rate picks up and falls based on a number of different factors," reported
The New York Times.
However, the divorce timeline can vary by state, argue experts. Wilkinson said, "The idea that people may be considering divorce in January supports the notion that March is actually a busier month for filing." A 2016 study by the University of Washington, which reports a spike in divorce filings in January, notes that in Washington, divorce cases increased in March and August, following the winter and summer holidays, from 2001 to 2015, the NYT reported.
According to other experts, the period from July through August follows a similar arc. Hence, they argue that January is the month to initiate the process of dissolving a broken marriage, but calling it "divorce month" isn’t completely accurate.
Now, this remains debatable. Several researchers suggest that women are more likely than men to initiate divorce after the holidays. The reason is not that they suddenly wake up unhappy, but rather that they spend months deliberating internally on whether staying is worth the cost.
With inputs from agencies.
We are not saying that; the data and divorce filings speak for themselves when cases spike dramatically in January. Even therapists believe that the idea of a new year is to create a sense of closure and a controlled exit strategy. According to many experts, January does not cause divorce, but debunks it. Meanwhile, some point out the nickname may be somewhat misleading, and January is often the starting point for divorce, not the finish line.
So what exactly is Divorce Month? Is January really a ‘divorce month’? And what do studies and experts say? We take a look.
Why is January unofficially nicknamed as 'Divorce Month'?
'A fresh start' is among many New Year's resolutions for couples, and that often includes divorce. January is widely recognised as prime time for legal separations; hence, it is dubbed the “Divorce Month” by some legal groups.
Cosmopolitan reports that a landmark University of Washington study found that over the past few decades, monthly divorce filings rose by 33 per cent in January. During November and December, divorce filings drop by about 50 per cent; however, they soar dramatically as the new year begins. According to the same study, cases in Texas, US, increased drastically after the holiday season, with January to March witnessing the highest spike.
How did January become known as divorce month?
The Associate Professor Julie Brines and doctoral candidate Brian Serafini conducted the study and analysed divorce-filing data across several states from 2001 to 2015. According to them, the patterns are consistent and statistically meaningful. “Very robust from year to year, and very robust across counties," said Brines.
Approximately 25-30 per cent of divorce inquiries are received by family law attorneys nationwide each January, as per reports. In 2025, Semrush reported that search volume for the terms “divorce” and “how to get a divorce” increased significantly from December to January, according to Cosmopolitan. Experts also see financial concerns playing a vital role in marital breakdown.
Why do other studies term it a seasonal pattern?
While many claim that January is the definitive divorce month, some experts have refuted this claim. For some, the month is often the starting point for divorce, but not the finish line. The more accurate term for them is 'divorce season' rather than divorce month.
A founding partner of the Wilkinson and Finkbeiner law firm in San Diego, David K. Wilkinson, asserted, "The perceived rise in divorce filings in January could be related to slower times in November and December." Adding, “In my mind, it’s natural that January sort of just picks back up. The divorce rate picks up and falls based on a number of different factors," reported
However, the divorce timeline can vary by state, argue experts. Wilkinson said, "The idea that people may be considering divorce in January supports the notion that March is actually a busier month for filing." A 2016 study by the University of Washington, which reports a spike in divorce filings in January, notes that in Washington, divorce cases increased in March and August, following the winter and summer holidays, from 2001 to 2015, the NYT reported.
According to other experts, the period from July through August follows a similar arc. Hence, they argue that January is the month to initiate the process of dissolving a broken marriage, but calling it "divorce month" isn’t completely accurate.
Do women often pull the divorce plug?
Now, this remains debatable. Several researchers suggest that women are more likely than men to initiate divorce after the holidays. The reason is not that they suddenly wake up unhappy, but rather that they spend months deliberating internally on whether staying is worth the cost.
With inputs from agencies.
