\u201cGray divorce\u201d is a term that refers to divorcing baby boomers.\u00a0 While it originally applied to couples married 40 years or more, the term now generally refers to any divorcing couple who may qualify with \u201cgray hair,\u201d thus, the term, \u201cgray divorce.\u201d\u00a0 While divorce rates are falling for most age groups, for those over the age of 50, the divorce rate is increasing.\u00a0 There are many reasons for gray divorce.<\/p>\n
In some families, the focus has always been on raising the children \u2013 or at least it has been for the past 18 \u2013 25 years.\u00a0 Thus, when the last child leaves the nest, the couple finds themselves with only each other for company.\u00a0 This may be when they realize they have grown apart.\u00a0 Many participants in gray divorce express their surprise to discover they no longer have anything in common with their spouse.\u00a0 Some people even describe their spouse as a stranger to them.<\/p>\n
Retirement can create some of the same issues as children leaving the nest.\u00a0 Once a spouse is no longer working, they find themselves spending more time together.\u00a0 While they may have found their spouse an okay dinner partner, once they are living with their spouse day and night, without the distractions that come with working full time, some couples again find they have nothing in common.<\/p>\n
Throughout our lives, our sex drive varies based on a host of internal and external factors.\u00a0 As couples get older, their sex drives may vary wildly.\u00a0 This can lead to resentment, frustration, disappointment, and shame.\u00a0 In some marriages, the partner with little or no sex drive seeks a divorce to avoid the uncomfortable situation.\u00a0 In other marriages, the person with the higher sex drive decides to leave and find someone else who\u2019s sex drive is a better match.<\/p>\n
People are living longer now than ever before.\u00a0 Average life expectancy has extended to the mid 80\u2019s for both men and women.\u00a0 One in four people who are 65 today is predicted to live until the age of 90 or longer.\u00a0 Thus, when a person over 50 starts thinking about living the next 20 or 30 years with someone they are no longer passionate about, they decide they\u2019d prefer to spend those years with someone they are more compatible with.<\/p>\n
Different people view retirement (or the choice not to retire) differently.\u00a0 Some people look forward to slow, leisurely days of reading books and doing crossword puzzles.\u00a0 Other people prefer to spend their time taking hiking tours or traveling.\u00a0 Many couples can find a healthy balance between two different, preferred lifestyle, but some couples can\u2019t.\u00a0 In a situation where the couple cannot agree on how they will spend their time, they may be more likely to divorce and seek different partners with views that are more aligned with their own.<\/p>\n
When both parties to a marriage are working and generating an income, their spending habits may not have much of an impact.\u00a0 However, after one or both parties retires, the spending habits of one or both parties can impose additional stress on those living on a fixed income.\u00a0 A gray divorce allows each partner to spend their own money as they see fit.<\/p>\n
There are several considerations one must make when deciding whether or not to enter into a gray divorce.\u00a0 These include the division of assets, the division of retirement accounts, and the division of Social Security income (in some cases).\u00a0 Other considerations can include health care and the cost of health insurance.\u00a0 Of course, many adult children have a difficult time with their parents\u2019 divorce.<\/p>\n
It is important to understand that divorce is not the only option an older couple has if they realize for whatever reason that they have grown apart.\u00a0 They may simply choose to live separately.\u00a0 They may choose to live in different parts of the house.\u00a0 They may come up with another arrangement they find satisfactory that is not as legally permanent and messy as a divorce can be.\u00a0 Every marriage is different.\u00a0 What may be the best choice for one couple may not be the best choice for another couple.<\/p>\n
Reasons couples may choose to remain legally married can include religious considerations, or an attempt to keep the peace with the children.\u00a0 Other people consider internal motivators such as maintaining social status or wealth.\u00a0 Still other people have other motivations for remaining legally married.<\/p>\n
If you are considering a gray divorce, the family law attorneys at\u00a0Fait & DiLima<\/a>\u00a0can help.\u00a0 We focus exclusively on practicing family law, and have extensive experience helping couples and families find new ways to define their normal.\u00a0 Contact the office to schedule a consultation.\u00a0 Together we can discuss your options, from a legal separation to a gray divorce.\u00a0 You may be surprised at what you learn.\u00a0 We look forward to meeting you and talking with you about your situation.\u00a0 Call us today at\u00a0(301) 251-0100<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Understanding Gray Divorce \u201cGray divorce\u201d is a term that refers to divorcing baby boomers.\u00a0 While it originally applied to couples married 40 years or more, the term now generally refers to any divorcing couple who may qualify with \u201cgray hair,\u201d thus, the term, \u201cgray divorce.\u201d\u00a0 While divorce rates are falling for most age groups, for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":5006,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[36],"class_list":["post-1807","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-divorce"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n