The new year is upon us. The holidays have passed.

From the time you carve up the Thanksgiving turkey until New Year’s, divorce lawyers usually aren’t that busy. Sure, we get phone calls about curve balls in parenting plans, but we don’t see a lot of new filings for divorce. Why? Because folks generally want to make a marriage work, and we all carry around this Norman Rockwell image of what the holidays should look like.

So we delay, telling ourselves we can get through one more holiday.

But if your holiday looked more like Norman Bates than Norman Rockwell, it might be time to give us a call and start the new year fresh.

Here are a few things to keep in mind if that’s where you are:

Take a Hard Look at Timing

In Tennessee, an uncontested divorce has a waiting period of 60 days without children and 90 days with children. If you want to be free by spring or summer, you need to start now.

Protect Your Finances

Get copies of bank statements, retirement accounts, and tax returns. Don’t wait until documents “disappear.” Starting fresh in January means knowing exactly where you stand financially.

Update Your Estate Planning

If divorce is on the horizon, wills, powers of attorney, and beneficiaries will need updating. Don’t leave your ex as the one who inherits your estate or makes your medical decisions.

Be Careful About Resolutions

A lot of folks get swept up in the “new year, new me” mindset and make quick decisions. Divorce is not a crash diet. It’s life-altering. Surround yourself with steady voices, not just the loudest ones.

Take Stock of Your Support System

Make sure you have a couple of trusted people who will keep you grounded — not the jaded friend who’s still bitter from their own three-year divorce. Choose wisely who you let speak into this process.

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Lawyer Bill’s Advice

Cases are not like wine. They don’t get better with age. If your marriage is truly over, dragging it through another year won’t help. The new year is a chance to put a stake in the ground, set a plan, and protect your future. Start smart, not desperate.