Now that the holidays are over, many people in the St. Louis area and all around the country are re-evaluating their marriages. Because extended family obligations are now over for a while, couples — including those with children — are weighing their options for divorce. Many divorce attorneys, in fact, say that there is a big uptick in inquiries about beginning divorce proceedings at this time of year.
It might be because parents are acting on a sort of New Year’s resolution — except instead of losing weight or reading more books, the resolution is to start a new life independent of one’s partner. Of course, when children are involved, the process can be considerably complicated. This is especially true for fathers, who might have to assert their parental rights in order to make sure they remain a big part of their kids’ lives after a divorce.
It could be, also, that people who are in unnaturally close quarters with relatives for an extended period of time want to get separation from them — in this case, by leaving the family altogether. A decision to file for a divorce is not something that should be taken lightly, of course, but the stress of the holiday season might push someone ever closer to making the decision to act.
In any case, people who are considering divorcing can speak with an experienced Missouri family law attorney. Fathers especially might want to make sure they can find someone who will represent their rights and interests.
Source: WDAF-TV, “New year signals divorce proceedings for many couples,” Macradee Aegerter, Jan. 2, 2014
