Baby Boomer Divorce
Ending a marriage later in life is complicated. Many couples aren't prepared for the unique legal issues and practical considerations that exist for older people, which can be daunting. The financial implications, particularly, are far reaching and can significantly impact the rest of both spouse's lives.
Some of the most concerning issues include healthcare, insurance, business interests, retirement savings, Social Security, estate planning, and taxes. The purpose of this guide is to provide insight into these issues for those who are older and are considering or facing a divorce.
What is a “Gray Divorce?”
The phrase "Gray Divorce" refers to divorces involving spouses over the age of 50, and who are typically members of the Baby Boomer generation. While the overall divorce rate has declined over the past 20 years, it has doubled for the segment of the population over age 50. This trend of older divorces has been coined Gray Divorce.
You may have heard different terms describe your divorce. If you are over the age of 50, you may be facing a grey (gray) divorce, a silver divorce, a diamond divorce, or a silver-splitter.
Whatever you call it, a divorce is a big change. Whether you have been married for several decades or just a few years. You face different issues in your 50s, 60s, 70s, or 80s than you do when you are younger. Your children are likely grown and child custody and child support are no longer concerns you need to address. However, other issues may become more complicated if you divorce later in life.
2nd & 3rd marriages are not uncommon in the Baby Boomer generation. The divorce rate for people over 50 who have been married more than once is 2.5 times higher than those who have been married only once. For remarried individuals over age 63, the divorce rate is nearly 4 times higher than those with only one marriage.
6 Things To Think About in a Silver Divorce
Older couples may need to think about issues, such as:
Alimony:
It may be unrealistic to expect a spouse to further their education or get a higher paying job as they age, and alimony may be necessary.
Division of Property:
If you’ve been married a long time, dividing household goods and other property may be more complicated than it would be in a shorter marriage.
Retirement Accounts:
Retirement is expensive, and the division of retirement accounts may be critical to maintaining your standard of living.
Life insurance benefits:
Life insurance with your former spouse as the beneficiary may be necessary if alimony is part of the divorce settlement. Otherwise, you may wish to change your life insurance policy beneficiary to someone other than your former spouse.
Updating Your Estate Plan:
You may wish to revise your will and other estate planning documents during a divorce.
Social Security benefits:
Social Security retirement issues should be discussed by your divorce lawyer before a financial settlement is reached.
All of these issues may also apply to younger couples but may become more important as you age. You deserve to live your best life possible for as long as possible. Whether you have a simple amicable divorce or a complex adversarial divorce, The Law Offices of Mais & Sible, Attorneys at Law can help you. Call us today!