March is known for St. Patrick’s Day, the Spring Equinox and March Madness, but as recent data suggest, the month also carries a more dubious claim as the most active month for divorce filings in the U.S.

Westlaw, the nation’s leading legal research database, found that while divorce filings increased nearly 13 percent between December 2011 and January 2012, divorce filings in March 2012 jumped 24 percent over January. A Westlaw analysis of U.S. divorce filings from 2008 to 2011 released last year highlighted this emerging trend.

A number of factors are cited for the increase in divorce filings in March, including a decision by couples to put-off divorce to maintain family unity though the holidays, follow through on New Year’s resolutions, and a notable increase in extramarital affairs during the holiday season.

Until recently, the conventional wisdom among divorce attorneys was that January was “Divorce Month,” based on a perceived uptick in business immediately following the holiday season.

For more information on managing a divorce, or to locate an attorney in your area, visit FindLaw.com, the nation’s leading website for free legal information.

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