本應充滿愛意和浪漫的情人節近幾年卻成為一年中的離婚高峰期。美國一家法律咨詢網站對紐約、伊利諾伊和加利福尼亞三個州的離婚案件研究后發現，2月份是一年中離婚案件最多的月份，比其他幾個月高出18%；情人節后找離婚律師咨詢的人數增加了38%。該網站一位聯合創建人表示，很多人一直都在考慮離婚的事情，猶豫到底要不要提出來。而在情人節那天，他們會對整件事做個分析判斷。另外，他還指出，除情人節這個因素之外，2月份還有一些其他因素導致離婚率上升。1月是一年中申請破產案件數量最多的月份，由此凸顯了家庭中的財務問題，并導致夫妻分離。另外，2月份寒冷的天氣讓伴侶們待在家中的時間增多，共處的時間太多也會讓兩人間的矛盾更加突出。

Valentine's Day is supposed to be about love and romance. But unfortunately, it can be just the opposite.

Valentine's Day is supposed to be about love and romance. But unfortunately, it can be just the opposite.

Because of that, Feb. 15 starts the busy season for divorce lawyers, as people who were unhappy with their marriages heading into the day often decide that they no longer want to be with the one they used to love.

A study of divorce filings in New York, Illinois and California by AttorneyFee.com, a legal referral site, found that February is the busiest month of the year for divorce filings, up about 18% from the average month. And those seeking referrals for a divorce lawyer on the site increase 38% following the holiday, with the biggest spike on the day after Valentine's.

Another legal site, Avvo.com, reports a 40% increase in those seeking information and advice about divorce in the period right after Valentine's Day.

"There's a very large number of people who are considering the divorce all the time, deciding whether or not to file," said Richard Komaiko, a co-founder of AttorneyFee. "On Valentine's Day, they take stock of things."

Komaiko said February has factors other than the holiday that could lead to an increase in divorces. January is the busiest month of the year for bankruptcy filings, highlighting the financial problems that often divide couples. In addition, the cold weather of February can keep couples that are having trouble indoors and closer to each other, adding to problems.

But Alton Abramowitz, president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, believes the holiday itself often brings things to a head for couples who are having trouble.

"There's always the clients who come in a day or two after saying 'I can't believe it, I made this beautiful dinner for my husband for Valentine's Day, he called to say he was stuck in the office and then didn't come home at all."

Abramowitz said for a person who is being unfaithful to a spouse, the day can create problems that lead to them finally getting caught.

"The person who is cheating is caught in the middle; they have to satisfy the spouse and their lover, and more often than not that's an impossible feat to achieve," he said.

(Source: CNNMoney)

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（中國日報網英語點津 Helen ）