February 14th is known as the day of love. It’s a day filled with over-sized teddy bears, mushy Hallmark cards, and an overabundance of social media posts about how much everyone on the planet loves their significant others, the same ones they complained about on Facebook last week.

What most people don’t know, however, is that February is the busiest month of the year for divorce filings, with an almost 18% increase from the average month, and a 38% increase in those seeking referrals for a divorce attorney the day after Valentine’s Day. Now, you might be wondering, “What makes February, specifically February 15th, the most common time to initiate a divorce proceeding?” Maybe it’s the final straw after a husband forgot to send flowers to his spouse the day before or because Cupid’s holiday brings attention to issues the couple has been trying to sweep under the rug for quite some time.

Another theory is that Valentine’s Day brings attention to cheating spouses, who have to choose between spending the day of love with their spouse or their lover. A choice that can ultimately expose the adulterous relationship, and lead to divorce papers being quickly served.

Now, this might be a stretch, but hear me out: winter months in many states across the country are brutally cold, forcing couples who are struggling to get along to remain stuck inside together for months on end, forcing them to constantly encounter their distaste for one another. Valentine’s Day may salvage some of those relationships, but for others, it may bring clarity that a divorce is the best way forward.

A more likely explanation, however, is that February comes right after Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s, and of course, Valentine’s Day. Now, it could be that no one wants to spend the holidays alone, so they wait to file, or couples hope the holidays will resolve their issues, which unfortunately doesn’t happen often. It also doesn’t help that it follows the month with the highest rate of bankruptcy filings, which in turn sheds a light on the couple’s financial struggles.

Whatever the reason, if you find yourself anticipating or planning to initiate a divorce action, it is imperative that you have an experienced family law attorney by your side who can guide you through the difficult and emotional process.

Please contact the Family Law Team at SW&L at 701-297-2890 or email us via the contact form below.

The information contained in this article and on this website is for informational purposes only. Do not rely on the information on this website as legal advice.

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