You don’t need to be a lawyer to know that the festive period can have its highs and lows. There are pressures to buy presents that are ‘the perfect gifts’ and pressures to have a ‘great time’. When the clock strikes midnight to mark the start of the new year, supposedly bringing with it a sense of optimism and hope, with cheers, hugs and ‘all the bests’, how many also feel that the whole thing is a charade?The reality for many couples is that having been forced to spend time together, sometimes with the added pressures of quarrelling children and ensuring they have done the rounds of families’ homes, far from being a relaxing time, many find that resentments fester and simmer until the rages explode.
There is also a natural tendency in any new year to assess how life is going and to take stock and when faced with the prospect of this being ‘it’, many couples decide to consult divorce solicitors after the festive season. Some people will already have made the decision before the festive season that the relationship is at an end and just want to ‘get Christmas out of the way’ or ‘have one last Christmas together for the kids’.
The latest figures from the Office of National Statistics indicate that an estimated 42% of marriages in England and Wales end in divorce. The most common reason found was growing apart or falling out of love. Whatever the cause of matrimonial disharmony, the festive season certainly does not help.
The high number of calls we get in January suggests that many people are considering what they want from their relationship and want to consider their options. We have clients who consult us for advice about their options – both in terms of arrangements for the children and finances – and perhaps take no action for weeks or months or even a year. We offer a free consultation so there really is no obligation. We also tell them about options such as marriage guidance so if there is anything worth saving, they can communicate and try to do so. If staying together is not an option, we tell clients about mediation so that if possible, they can maintain some channel of communication in sorting out their issues.
Divorce is a last resort and for most will be a very worrying and stressful time. We are here to help you through the process.
Beecham Peacock Solicitors in Newcastle can advise on divorce and separation issues. Call us on 0191 2323048 or email enquire@beechampeacock.co.uk
Sophia Yau-Rosher
Partner
