Watch above: The holiday and honeymoon is over as Saskatoon couples run to the phones to divorce in December. Meaghan Craig talks to one company overwhelmed by calls on Dec. 28.
SASKATOON – It’s four words no one wants to hear over the holiday season or at least 30 per cent of people didn’t expect to – “I want a divorce.” According to those in the industry, business is booming this time of year with spouses finally deciding to call it quits.
“Christmas and the holidays tend to be a stressful time for many regardless of relationships,”said Tracy Kendel, owner of Fairway Divorce Solutions and a senior negotiator.
“So we’re finding prior to Christmas you’re out of routine, you’re spending more time with family, thinking of traditions, Christmas shopping and realizing these probably aren’t traditions you want to continue.”
At Fairway, phones have been ringing off the hook since the beginning of Christmas as people pull the plug on their marriages. The mediation firm also expects to see a 20 to 30 per cent increases in calls over the month of January.
“Essentially divorce becomes a business, it’s about money and kids.”
It’s something many Saskatonians were not surprised to hear.
“I guess a few family get together’s could probably get the gears grinding pretty good.”
“I think that the financial stress of Christmas and Christmas should be about family and togetherness and it’s turned into nothing but a financial money pit that causes stress on family and marriage and I also think that maybe just the whole New Year thing, New Year’s resolutions might have a bit of an impact on that.”
READ MORE: Attainable New Year’s resolutions the way to go
Sixty per cent of the time, Kendel says it’s the woman who initiates the divorce and in the majority of cases it’s couples between 40 to 55 years of age.
The organization says, on average, it will spend three months with a couple helping to negotiate everything and navigate them through the divorce. This, of course, all depends on the couples availability, how long it takes to gather financial information and the complexity of the file.
“At the end of the day your content knowing that they’ve left your office with a fair agreement and hopefully able to co-parent,” explained Kendel.
A surge in searches for divorce information also happens after every major holiday and the firm expects to see another after Valentine’s Day.
“Be aware of your relationship, the number one break down I would say from our view is communication so there isn’t a lot of communication, whether there’s no fighting or a lot of fighting or couples just don’t know what’s going on in each others lives.”
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