In New Jersey, January is the most popular month for couples to file for divorce. For those who worry that their marriage is on the rocks and that divorce is on the horizon, there are some habits spouses may suddenly develop before announcing their wish to break up.

Some of these red flags to watch out as the new year unfolds include:

Talking in legal terms: If your spouse seems to have a new vocabulary all of a sudden, it might be because they've been in to speak to a lawyer and picked up on some new terms.

Redrafting inheritances: In some households, large financial gifts or inheritances are received from parents. These funds are often used to pay off the matrimonial house that, upon divorce, will likely be split. If your spouse requests a signature on a form that switches the gift to a loan, it might be his or her goal to reclaim the entire sum during divorce.

Reorganizing finances: If you see large loans being made to extended family members that are being drawn from your joint bank account, this could be a way for your spouse to hide assets.

Filing for bankruptcy: The red flag comes up when one spouse, who is the name holder on the home, asks the other spouse to file for bankruptcy. This action can prevent the other spouse from accessing half of the home during divorce.

If you think your spouse may be getting ready to ask for divorce, it is important for you to start learning about divorce and the steps you can take to help ensure you're ready if the big news comes.

Source: The Globe and Mail, "10 signs your spouse may be planning to divorce you," Tralee Pearce, Jan. 12, 2012