What’s on your holiday wish list? Hopefully, you’re not asking Santa for a divorce. Marriages end and this isn’t anything to be ashamed of. People grow apart and no longer get along. It’s almost always better to get a divorce than stay in a marriage that’s making you miserable. 

However, timing your divorce can be crucial. For example, you probably want to avoid any potential ramifications of a divorce during the holidays. Your divorce may be your best Christmas present but others in your family may not feel the same way.

Not Everything is Open

The holiday season tends to kick off around Thanksgiving. There’s something about this first extended weekend that gets and keeps everyone in the holiday spirit. 

Everyone knows there are only a few weeks until Christmas and the New Year, and this means more time off. In between holidays, there are office Christmas parties to plan and attend. In other words, a lot of industries start slowing down around the holidays.

Why does this matter when all you want is a holiday divorce? Even if you and your soon-to-be former spouse agree on every term of the divorce, including custody and support, the court still needs to be involved. Have you ever tried to get a court date during the holidays? You probably have a better chance of going to the North Pole and having cookies with the real Santa Claus.

Your divorce isn’t finalized until it’s approved by a family court judge. This means you need a court date and it’s probably not happening until after the new year.

Finding a Divorce Attorney Over the Holidays Can Be Tough

You can probably find an attorney willing to work on your divorce over the holidays, but your options are limited. If you and your spouse are having trouble divvying up the shared assets or agreeing on things like custody and support, you need a divorce attorney.

Since you probably don’t want to partner with a less-than-experienced attorney, you may need to wait to start your divorce. Don’t forget, even if you can retain your first choice for legal counsel you’re still dealing with closed courtrooms and full dockets.

The Event Places Stress on Your Family

Getting a divorce affects everyone in your family, especially your children. Before you start planning life as a single parent over the holidays, think about your children. Yes, this sounds a little trite but it’s also important. Ask yourself, do you really want your children to associate the holidays with their parent’s divorce? You can easily take away all of the fun and magic associated with the holiday season.

Even if you and your partner are ready to start divorce proceedings, it’s still a good idea to keep everything under wraps. There’s no reason to start discussing your upcoming divorce over Christmas dinner. Table this conversation at least until January 2nd. This way, everyone has great memories of the holidays and your kids may be more ready to make new ones next year.

Preparing For Your After-Holiday Divorce

Sure, you may feel like a fraud celebrating the holidays with your family while also planning for your divorce. However, remember getting a divorce during the holidays isn’t exactly a piece of cake. There’s a good chance you’re not going to even get a court date until after the new year.

What you can do is start making a plan. Even though you can’t put your plan into action, you can get it ready. This can help the process go a little more smoothly and reduce stress on your family. Go ahead and contact a divorce attorney, even if you’re not sure you’re going to need one. At least, you can schedule a consultation for after New Year’s and even choose a court date.

Do you and your soon-to-be ex have children? If so, start working on a parenting plan. Don’t forget about addressing any support issues. This can be spousal and/or child support. Start collecting your financial documents if you’re planning on requesting some type of support.

Take Time to Enjoy the Holidays One Last Time

This is probably going to be your last holiday together as a family unit. Make the most of your time together and try to push the divorce to the back of your mind. 

There’s nothing wrong with keeping your pending divorce a secret, at least for a few weeks. Once the holidays are over, you can start planning your new life as a single adult.