Beware the dangers of the office party…

It’s that time of year again – office parties, boozy lunches or a quick drink at the Christmas markets after work. But don’t fall into the trap of becoming one of the post-Christmas divorce statistics.

Divorce lawyers frequently cite the period just after Christmas as one of their busiest times of year. Whether it is a kiss under the mistletoe with a colleague that goes too far, or simply that Christmas is one of only a handful of occasions over the year when families are together the longest, putting additional strain on an already fragile marriage, the fact is that family practitioners receive a high number of new instructions in the new year.

Adultery is often cited as the reason for the breakdown of a marriage at this time, but so too is “unreasonable behaviour” – the subjective catch-all factor which can be relied upon in the absence of adultery or period of separation.

Whatever the reasons for the breakdown in a marriage, it is important to seek specialist legal advice early on so as to fully protect your position.