Many couples who are contemplating divorce in Pennsylvania wait until after the holidays to take the first steps. The process of filing for divorce includes speaking to an attorney, filing a complaint and having the other spouse served with the paperwork. In fact, January is the most popular month for filing for divorce. Attorneys in the U.S. and U.K. have reported that divorces increase over 20 percent with the start of a new year.
Many people believe that filing for divorce is usually a financial disaster. However, there are actually some upsides that come with filing for divorce. When state laws give homemakers strong property rights after a divorce, the number of marriages increases overall.
In states that allow either spouse to file for a no-fault divorce, the number of domestic violence incidents, murder by a spouse and suicide of married women decrease significantly. The ability for either side to file for divorce grants many individuals who may feel trapped in an unhappy marriage more freedom to keep themselves safe.
One of the largest growing age groups filing for divorce is older adults. The most common reasons cited by many in this group are increased longevity and unwillingness to remain unhappy anymore.
Even when divorce is clearly the best option for a person who feels trapped in an unhappy marriage, it can be complicated. A family law attorney may be able to help guide clients through the process by filing paperwork, negotiating uncontested issues, attending mediation and presenting convincing evidence to a judge.
An attorney might also help individuals who have already been through divorce enjoy peace of mind that if they face separation and divorce in the future. A divorce attorney may draft and a document such as a prenuptial agreement that will keep things simpler if either spouse decides to end the marriage.