Why September Is a Popular Month to Consider Divorce
September is a month of transitions. The air shifts, routines reset, and suddenly we’re pulled into a season that feels like both an ending and a beginning. It’s no coincidence that September has quietly become one of the most common months for people to consider divorce. Lawyers call it “divorce season,” but for us, it’s more about fresh starts—about realizing that you’re allowed to want something different for your life.
The Back-to-School Breathing Room
As a parent, we know how consuming summer can be. Long days with the kids home, family trips that don’t always go as planned, and the constant juggle of childcare and work—it can feel like there’s no space to even hear your own thoughts. September brings a pause. Kids head back to school, and suddenly, there’s a quiet morning, a moment alone in the kitchen, or even just a walk without little voices at your side. That breathing room can be the first time in months that you let yourself acknowledge the questions you’ve been avoiding: Is this marriage working for me? Am I still happy here?
When Summer Shows the Cracks
We’ve heard this again and again in our community: summer magnifies what’s already broken. That vacation you hoped would heal things? Instead, it highlighted how far apart you’ve grown. The long weekends together? They brought simmering tensions to the surface. Many people make it through the summer by telling themselves, “I’ll deal with this later.” September is later. It’s when the truth becomes harder to ignore.
September as a “Soft New Year”
Culturally, January gets all the attention for resolutions. But September carries its own kind of reset energy. There’s something about fresh notebooks, new routines, and earlier sunsets that invites reflection. Unlike January’s bold declarations, September’s changes are quieter, more personal. It’s less about announcing a resolution and more about whispering to yourself: I want my life to feel different. For some, that whisper becomes the first step toward divorce.
Practical Timing, Emotional Timing
There’s also a practical side to September. Starting the process now gives families time to establish a new normal before the holiday season. It can mean fewer surprises for children and more space to create traditions that feel safe and steady, even in transition. But timing isn’t just logistical—it’s emotional. September offers both the psychological permission to begin again and the practical scaffolding to do it with intention.
Fresh Starts in the Season of Change
For us, September has always felt like a sacred hinge: the past behind you, the future waiting quietly ahead. It’s not about rushing into decisions or declaring ultimatums. It’s about honoring the clarity that this season brings and giving yourself permission to imagine a different kind of life. Divorce may feel like an ending, but in September, it’s often experienced as the beginning of a fresh start.
If You’re Ready to Take the First Step
If this September has you wondering whether divorce might be the next step for you, we created a free resource to help. What to Consider When You’re Considering Divorce is our gentle, practical guide to the very first steps in this process. It covers the emotional, financial, and logistical questions to ask yourself—and even includes scripts for the conversations you may be dreading. Download it for free (no email or credit card required) and know that you don’t have to figure this out alone.