The beginning of a new year brings plenty of change. While some make resolutions to follow a new diet or get a promotion, others resolve to fix any issues they may have going on in their personal lives. This leads to the start of an increase of family law cases, especially divorces. Here at Petrelli Previtera, LLC, we refer to this phenomenon as the “January Effect.”
We see a higher number of intake calls and requests for filings of divorce and custody proceedings in January than any other month each year. Generally, family law attorneys are busiest at the start of the year.
This occurs for multiple reasons. The first is that many try to avoid family turmoil around the holiday season. Whether they want to spend one last holiday as a family, or want to avoid making things difficult for their children at a joyous time, many adults wait until the season is over to make a familial change. Some wait until the start of a new year for tax purposes, as filing in a new year will not interfere with the previous year’s filings. Others note that the Courts do not always have as many dates available in December, so filing in January gives them a better opportunity to get into Court.
Whatever the reason, the attorneys at Petrelli Previtera, LLC understand that the start of a new year can be a challenging time for any family. If you have questions about what is right for you and your family, give us a call today to schedule your consultation.