In the legal biz, January has long held a reputation as “divorce month” — and with A-list couples like Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson and Jessica Alba and Cash Warren recently confirming that their marriages are over, the designation feels more accurate than ever.
Sure, lawyers are busy and stressed all year round, but many who work in divorce and family law confirm that business absolutely booms every January — whether it’s via new inquires from couples taking the first steps to split, or long-suffering spouses who now want to get those papers signed ASAP.
So, why is the first month of the year such a common time for couples to announce they’ve broken up? After all, it’s not just the Jessicas: the start of 2025 has also seen the demise of long-term reality TV couples Paige DeSorbo and Craig Conover plus Matt James and Rachael Kirkconnell.
Well, one huge factor is the holidays. Many unhappy couples decide to get through one last festive period for the sake of their families: on December 26, Alba, 43, even shared a snapshot of she and Warren, 46, posing by the Christmas tree with their three kids (they share daughters Honor, 16, and Haven, 13, and son Hayes, 7). Simpson, 44, and Johnson, 45, share three young children, too: Maxi, 12, Ace, 11, and Birdie, 5.
All the Clues Jessica Alba and Cash Warren Were Headed for a Split
While some couples might be hoping that the magic of Christmas (or Chanukah or Kwanzaa) will bring them closer together, others might have already decided to split on the other side. The extra downtime gives them a chance to draft that awkward text to their friends — or negotiate appropriately sensitive press release wording with their PR team.
Plus, there’s the fact that the holidays themselves can bring a lot of extra stress: from the financial strain — admittedly not such an issue for some celebrity couples — to the pressures of spending more time than usual together, potentially with extended family. If your spouse is already getting on your nerves, there’s nothing like negotiating cooking arrangements with your in-laws to make you want to run for the hills.
If the stories of Simpson, Alba and friends are hitting a little too close to home for you right now, remember that most divorced couples will tell you it’s the build-up to the official split that’s the toughest to navigate. This is especially true if you’re famous and it’s not just your neighbors whispering about a rumored rift and trying to get a look at your ring finger, but the entire world. Once the news is finally, officially out there, it can be a relief.
All the Signs Jessica Simpson and Eric Johnson Were Headed for a Divorce
And it’s not all doom and gloom. January might feel like a depressing time to announce that love is dead, but there are positives, too. “It’s New Year’s,” family lawyer Ken Jewell told Newsweek. “Many people view the New Year as an opportunity to clear out what does not work for them including marriages. It’s the New Year’s resolution idea. Fresh year. Fresh start.”
Exactly! Whether your fresh start involves buying a new notebook, some new lingerie or even a new subscription to a dating app, looking forward instead of backwards is crucial. Writing off 2024 as a tough year and approaching the new one positively can be psychologically useful. Plus, at this time of year there’s usually tons of great TV to distract you from any heartache. Sure, sex, cuddles and companionship can be fun, but there’s a new season of Severance about to start. You’ve totally got this!
