Each new year, as everyone takes down their holiday decor and posts “new year, new me,” Instagram Stories, another tradition arrives: an inrush of couples who choose to spend the first weeks of the year filing for divorce.
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“The introspection that accompanies New Year’s resolutions can act as a powerful catalyst, which often prompts people to pursue significant changes in their lives, including within their marriages,” says divorce attorney Jackie Combs. As hopeful resolution makers embrace the fresh slate of a new year via sobriety, a bold hair change, or fresh fitness goals, those who find their marriages are no longer working may also feel empowered to reset their lives in a major way.
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Combs adds that many couples may also hold off on filing until after the holidays to protect family peace, especially when children are involved. “This approach intends to minimize disruption to their children’s routines and create a more stable period for the family while they’re navigating the transition,” Combs explains.
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"Welcome to 'Divorce Month,'" by Annabel Iwegbue was published in Cosmopolitan on January 6, 2026.
