More people over the age of 50 are divorcing these days. The number has
doubled in the past 20 years. Those who have studied the trend call it
gray divorce. In 2009, more than 600,000 people over the age of 50 filed for divorce.
While it’s becoming more popular than ever, there are a few things
people need to consider before initiating the divorce process.
The 1st thing you need to think about is whether or not you and your spouse can
arrange to have an amicable divorce, called an uncontested divorce. If
you and your spouse can agree to an uncontested divorce, the process will
be much quicker, easier, and cheaper than if you can’t agree on
a significant part of your divorce.
The 2nd thing you need to consider is your finances. Not only is a contested divorce
more expensive, but you and your spouse will likely need to split your
pensions and Social Security. This means both of you will probably have
less of a retirement cushion to depend on when you retire, if you’re
not already retired. During a divorce, you and your spouse will be dividing
all marital assets equitably, and older people often have a difficult
time being hired for a job. If you need to reenter the workforce after
the divorce to supplement your income, you will need to plan ahead for
that possibility.
Last, if you have kids, consider their place in the divorce. People who
are over the age of 50 typically have children in their teens or early
adulthood. Consider whether or not you can wait for a couple of years
until your children are legally adults before divorcing. This will make
the divorce process much easier by allowing you to skip any contentious
custody battle proceedings. Likewise, keeping our children in mind provides
opportunities to share in their lives without the tension created by “selfish” divorces.
If you need help initiating a divorce, talk to our skilled
Bronx divorce attorney.
The Law Firm of Wayne F. Crowe, Jr., P.C. has more than a decade of experience in family law to offer your case.
Attorney Crowe’s goal is to provide aggressive representation at
reasonable prices while maintaining a line of open and honest communication
with our clients. Let us see what we can do for you and your family.
Contact us
at (347) 343-5467 or fill out our online form today.