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Breaking Up for Summer

Summer holidays are traditionally a time for rest and relaxation when families take a welcome break from the daily grind and spend precious time together.

But a fortnight in the sun together is not necessarily good for all relationships. Summer, along with Christmas, is the period when rocky marriages are most likely to fall apart.

A peak in the divorce rate is fairly understandable at Christmas, when people often have unrealistically high expectations for a stereotypical happy Christmas, drink more than usual and are cooped up together indoors, often with parents and in-laws.

For under-pressure marriages, this situation can be a powder keg. But the summer period, however, can be equally as stressful.

On the face of it, a fortnight away would seem to be helpful for couples, providing time and space to talk through any problems they might have.

For some though, suddenly spending a lot of time with their partner has quite the opposite effect and can often aggravate and highlight existing relationship problems.

Sitting down for a meal together may start an analysis of the relationship and with the added impact of alcohol, matters may come to a head.

It is not only married couples for whom summer can spell the end of the line.

The trend in the divorce rate has changed very little in recent years, although a high percentage of the new referrals now seen are co-habitees.

Disputes regarding children are also more prominent at this time of year, regardless of their parents’ marital status, when there are often quite a lot of last minute disagreements over holidays and contact with the children, as the school holidays approach.

Separating couples may also want to know how they can recover their share of the property in order to move on with their lives.

If you require any further information on family law, please contact Sonia Bachu of the Family Law Team on sonia.bachu@harveyingram.com or 0116 257 6148.

Click here to visit our Family Law website.