Times when you should not start a divorce

Few blog post talk about the worst (or inopportune) times to call your marriage quits. Despite your feelings about your soon-to-be ex-spouse, timing is everything; even with divorce. After all, who wants to ruin a family gathering, be the bane of a child’s existence or, even worse, lose out on bonus money?

With that said, we lay out some of the worst times to initiate a divorce.

**Just before your child’s, or a family member’s wedding – **The days before a loved one’s wedding are supposed to be a time where two families are joining together. It should be a celebration and does not need to be hijacked by your marriage problems. So while you may be living through a troubled relationship, it may be good karma to hold off on initiating your divorce until after the wedding.

The holiday season – You would be surprised with how many people think it’s a good thing to serve divorce papers with Thanksgiving turkey or fill a Christmas stocking with a dissolution petition. However, it is better for children to not have to endure a holiday season with parents stewing over their impending divorce.

**Before bonuses are awarded – **Another reason why January and February divorces are popular is that a divorcing spouse may be eligible to collect on a spouse’s bonus. If the divorce (and the ensuing valuation date) is before a bonus is awarded, the argument could be made that the bonus is separate property. As such, divorcing before bonuses are awarded may not be a good idea.

We Can Help

If you’re considering divorce or have questions about the divorce process in Maryland, the attorneys at Leffler, Bayoumi & Oliver, LLC can provide experienced guidance. We help clients throughout Howard County, Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County, and central Maryland navigate divorce matters with care and professionalism.

Contact us to schedule a consultation, or call 410-740-1180.