Married couples who may be close to calling it quits often decide to get through the holidays with family before taking actions to separate or file for divorce. simarik/iStockphoto/Getty Images

This holiday season may be filled with the usual delights and stresses of buying gifts, hosting and seeing extended family. But for some married couples, it also is a time of stress because they’re contemplating whether to divorce in the new year.

One study from the University of Washington found that March is a peak month for divorce filings. And two divorce attorneys told CNN they see a surge of new clients coming in as early as January inquiring about next steps.

“They are waiting for the holidays to be over,” said Kristen Shearin, a North Carolina-based divorce litigator, mediator and cer

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