Family Law Blog

Divorce Rates Rise in January

By Denver Divorce Lawyer on February 11, 2009

People who work in fields related to marriage dissolution say that each January brings a spike in couples filing for divorce according to this article from InsideBayArea.com. They say that there is a predictable drop in divorce rates from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day as couples planning to divorce delay their plans until after the holidays. Experts cite money problems as one of the main causes for divorce, but also say that the current recession presents a paradox for divorcing couples.

The recession is causing additional financial difficulty for couples already struggling to make ends meet and this friction amplifies any other problems the couple may be having. Yet, the costs of getting a divorce, living separately, and raising children make divorce a financially unappealing option.

Experts claim that a weak economy inspires divorcing couples to find less expensive ways to dissolve their marriage and minimize the costs of living and raising children separately. Some of these alternative approaches may include the couple continuing to live together as roommates or a mediated settlement that doesn’t involve lawyer and court costs.

Colleen Durcan, a manager for a divorce hotline in California said, “There are a lot of options if a couple is willing to work with each other. I think people are frightened with what divorce costs.” Durcan said that the predictable January increase in divorce rates of around 30 percent is likely to occur again this year, but last January brought a slight decline in the annual spike.

Legal professionals who deal with divorcing couples claim that it is not uncommon for a divorce involving lawyers to cost around $10,000 per couple. But if the divorce is especially bitter and goes to court, the additional court costs can push the cost of divorce well past $70,000. Alternatives such as mediation can result in much lower costs around $3,500 if both parties are agreeable and want to dissolve their marriage as inexpensively as possible.

Colorado couples who are thinking about divorce but are concerned about the costs may wish to contact the Colorado divorce attorneys at family law firm Kaplan Law L.L.C. This law firm of experienced Colorado divorce lawyers can answer any questions the couple may have and will help them sort out any custody or visitation issues they may be having.