Gray divorces have become a cultural phenomenon in recent years. Older adults nearing retirement age or already out of the workforce are more likely than ever to decide that divorce is the best path forward.
Gray divorces have the potential to be relatively complicated. What sets them apart from other divorces involving younger couples?
Decades of shared income and debts
Gray divorces are subject to the same property division rules as any other divorce. However, the overall marital estate may be substantially larger than in cases where a marriage only lasted a few years.
In fact, spouses may jointly own almost everything in their possession and may share responsibility for all of their debts. The process of dividing the marital estate can be much more difficult because it is larger and because spouses may not be in a position to rebuild after the end of the marriage the way that they can earlier in life.
Intense social fallout
Adult children are not subject to a shared custody order that provides them with an opportunity to reconnect with the parent they blame for the divorce. They are more likely than minor children to end a relationship with one parent over the divorce.
Older couples may also find that their extended families, neighbors and church communities are more likely to react strongly to the divorce and to take sides than in divorces involving younger couples. They may struggle to find neutral people to support them through the divorce process.
People preparing for a gray divorce may need to approach the matter cautiously for their own emotional and financial protection. Consulting with an attorney as early as possible is usually beneficial for those facing a complex divorce.
