We all know how a lot of things change with the seasons, including human behavior. But what you might not realize is this includes one behavior you might not have considered — divorce.

According to a recent NPR report (https://www.npr.org/2025/06/05/nx-s1-5415880/divorce-months-seasons-why?), divorces tend to spike twice a year: in the early spring and again in the late summer.

Although January is often referred to as “divorce month,” the result of New Year’s resolutions, it’s actually relatively slow. Since most divorcing couples have children, they plan their splits for a less-disruptive time. One of these is early spring after reflecting on the holidays, and another is late summer, after vacations and before school starts. Sociology professor Julie Brines, who authored a 2016 study from the University of Washington that analyzed divorce filing data, thinks legal proceedings may be driven by a “domestic ritual” calendar based on winter and summer holidays.

On the other hand, Carol Lee Roberts, president of the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts, sees other factors involved. “The idea that divorces peak in March because it’s right after joint tax returns are filed, or every August because it’s the end of the summer and you’ve just come home from family vacations and just can’t take this for a minute more” isn’t really true. For one thing, many states have waiting periods. She also cites a 2015 research showing that 37% of married people have been thinking about divorce for at least two years.

But for whatever reason, divorce attorneys are expecting another increase in cases come this fall.