January has long been nicknamed “Divorce Month” among family law attorneys. There’s a big uptick in new filings during the first three months of the year. The surge makes sense when you consider how emotional the holiday season can be.
Many unhappily married spouses either delay acting on their feelings because they get caught up in the hopefulness and merriment of the season – or they simply don’t want to break up the family until the holidays are over.
Most likely, if your spouse is quietly contemplating a divorce, the red flags are there. You just have to know how to spot them.
Signs your spouse already has one foot out of the door
The experts say that there are four basic signs that tell you that your marriage is floundering: Defensiveness, a lack of communication, contempt and criticism. Those are some pretty big signals, to be sure, but you should also look for minor signs that your spouse is preparing to leave, like:
- They suddenly have a renewed interest in their appearance and are making rapid changes (often because they are anticipating a future where they are free to date).
- They have a new excuse for not wearing their wedding band – like the size suddenly is wrong, or it bothers their hand at work. That may be a signal they’re already seeking new companionship (or just no longer feel committed).
- Some of their most cherished personal items are removed from the house. If your spouse suddenly puts their entire vinyl collection in storage, that should alarm you.
- They’ve gotten very secretive about things like their phone, computer, friends, and where they go when they aren’t home.
If any of these sounds familiar, it may be time to learn more about divorce and what you should do to protect your own legal interests.