Relationships at crisis point

While Christmas may seem to be the trigger for people wanting to end their marriages, it is not entirely accurate to put all of the blame on the festive period.

The chief executive of Relate, Chris Sherwood, explained to the Herald Scotland:

“The reality is that many of the calls we receive in January are from couples who are already at crisis point after existing relationship tensions have come to a head over Christmas.”

For some couples, it may be that the start of a new year is the trigger to make important changes in their lives – some that are perhaps long overdue - while others see Christmas as a make-or-break time. They put off dealing with relationship problems or aim to get through the Christmas holidays for the sake of children, and are forced to face reality once the festive fun is over.

The Herald Scotland also reports, however, that some couples experience very specific relationship-ending events over Christmas. For example, a wife who found a receipt for a diamond watch that was never placed under the tree, intended as it was for a woman her husband was having an affair with.

Another stated example was one partner failing to drop the children off on time, or at all, on Christmas Day. In some of these cases, the law firm Lux received voicemail messages from clients calling on Christmas Day itself to start divorce proceedings.

Relate urges counselling

The relationship service advises people who are considering divorce over Christmas to avoid making snap decisions, and to consider trying counselling before signing divorce papers. According to their research, one in 10 divorced people believe that their relationship could have been salvaged had they been able to access the right support. Relate’s Chris Sherwood explains the benefits of counselling to married couples facing difficult times:

"Counselling can help couples to improve communication, increasing their chances of staying together but equally it can help the couple to make the decision to go their separate ways if that's what's best for them."

If you are seriously considering starting divorce proceedings and need expert legal advice, or want to find out more about counselling and mediation, the experienced and friendly team at Tracey Miller Family Law can help. Call our Wirral divorce solicitors on 0151 515 3036 or contact us online.