(NewsNation) — Now that New Year’s Day has passed, people are getting ready to mark the first unofficial holiday of 2026, known as Divorce Day.

Divorce Day falls on Jan. 6, and is the term that points to the spike in divorce filings lawyers see during the month.

Consultant solicitor Alberta Tevie feels that couples wait to file for divorce until January to avoid the difficulty of the holiday season.

“Many couples often see the Christmas period as the final straw in their relationship,” Tevie, who works for law firm Richard Nelson, said.

Several lawyers also have acknowledged January as “Divorce Month,” noting “couples are freer to think about a fresh start.”

Just four years ago, the national divorce rate was 7.1%.