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Divorce enquiries at law firms traditionally surge on the first working Monday of the New Year—so much so that it has become known as Divorce Day.

More than 40 per cent of all marriages now end in divorce, reports the Office for National Statistics. And one in five married couples start thinking about separating during the post-Christmas period, according to research from leading law firm Irwin Mitchell.

But the stress of Christmas and the January blues isn't the only factor affecting the timing of divorces. Financial pressures figure increasingly in such decisions.

Three helpful things to know

 Seeing your parents argue can be upsetting. And it's worse if they are going through a divorce. Who will look after you? Who can you have contact with?

When your parents get a divorce

1. You can see each of your parents
You can have contact with both your parents, as long as it's the best thing for you. The amount of contact time you have with each parent needs to be agreed.

Three things to know if you're a parent

We all hope our relationships will last, but sometimes they don't.

Ending a relationship can be hard. And it will be harder if you have children.

Who will look after them? How much contact will you have with them?

When you get divorced

1. You can have contact with your child

As a parent, you can have contact with your child—as long as it's the best thing for them. Try to agree with your partner and child how much contact you have and when you spend time together.

Divorce enquiries at law firms traditionally surge on the first working Monday of the New Year—so much so that it has become known as Divorce Day.  

More than 40 per cent of all marriages now end in divorce, reports the Office for National Statistics. And one in five married couples start thinking about separating during the post-Christmas period, according to research from leading law firm Irwin Mitchell.

But the stress of Christmas and the January blues isn't the only factor affecting the timing of divorces. Financial pressures figure increasingly in such decisions.

Did you know a number of people do not feel confident about what to expect from their solicitor and whether their conduct has been appropriate or not?