Published January 30, 2017 by Kyung (Kathryn) Dickerson
January’s divorce filings are 30% more than any other month. SmolenPlevy Principal and family law attorney Kyung (Kathryn) Dickerson appeared on News Channel 8’s Good Morning Washington to explain why there is such an increase in divorces at the start of the new year.
Unhappy couples often wait until after the holidays because they don’t want to ruin that time for their children and family members. For some, spending extended time with their spouse confirms their desire to end the marriage. “There’s that post-holiday fatigue, where you are able to endure the holidays only because you know it’s the last time you will have to go through them or have to see your in laws again,” Dickerson tells Good Morning Washington host Larry Smith.
Dickerson provides some important tips to consider if you are planning on filing for a divorce.
- Gather copies of documents that verify assets, liabilities, income and expenses.
- Avoid unnecessary litigation expenses by being reasonable. Don’t do anything out of spite like cancel your spouse’s credit cards (without notice) or freeze the only accounts to which they have access.
- Have realistic expectations. You are now going to support two households on the same income that paid for one. You will have to make some cuts and budget for a divorce.
Debt incurred jointly during the course of a marriage can stay with the couple. Dickerson says, “The credit card company doesn’t care if you’re getting a divorce. So be careful when you sever credit card ties. The last thing you want is your spouse standing in the grocery line, trying to pay for groceries for himself and the children, and realizing he doesn’t have a functioning credit card.”
Watch the full segment of Kyung (Kathryn) Dickerson on Good Morning Washington above.
Kyung (Kathryn) Dickerson
Kyung (Kathryn) Dickerson is a principal at SmolenPlevy in Vienna, Virginia. She is a member of the Bars of Virginia and the District of Columbia, and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals – Fourth Circuit, U.S. Bankruptcy Court – Eastern District of Virginia and the U.S. District Court – Eastern District of Virginia. She is a graduate of the University of Virginia and George Mason University School of Law, where she served on the Board of Editors for the Journal of International Legal Studies. Throughout her career, Ms. Dickerson has received numerous awards. Most recently she was named a 2019 Best Lawyer by The Best Lawyers in America© and was selected as a “Leader in the Law” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly in 2007 and SmartCEO Magazine’s Power Players Attorney of the Year for divorce, domestic relations, and child custody and adoptions in 2013. Northern Virginia Magazine has named her a Top Lawyer for family-focused law in 2016, 2015, 2013 and 2010. She was named to “Virginia Legal Elite” by Virginia Business in 2014.
