For couples on the edge of divorce, just the thought of white-knuckling it through the upcoming holidays sets their teeth on edge. If you can’t summon the energy to fake playing the happy couple in public one more time, you might need to pull the plug on your marriage before the end of the year.
But before you rush out to file your petition for divorce, you want to be sure to be strategic in your moves. Below is some important information for you to consider first.
Are kids involved?
If you have minor children (especially if they are very young), you may want to wait until after the holidays to break up your family unit. Kids may associate the holidays with the negative experience of their parents’ divorce if it happens too close to Christmas or Hanukkah.
But also examine your relationship to your spouse. If it is truly terrible, you are doing the kids no favors by giving them a front-row seat to another dysfunctional holiday. And if there is any type of abuse involved, you want to plan your exit now.
When you split has tax ramifications
Before filing for divorce, address your filing date concerns with your financial adviser. They can tell you whether it would be appropriate financially to file in 2025 or whether waiting until 2026 would be more advantageous.
It would be a major change of plans
If you booked a family cruise to the Caribbean over the winter holidays, you might not want to file now and forgo an expensive trip the kids are all anticipating. Cruise ships are large and there is something to attract (and distract) everyone.
Alternatively, if you are traveling to visit family, this might be a good time to share the news with chosen family members. You will need a strong support circle, no matter when you file. Learning more about your legal options is advisable when facing divorce.