It’s often referred to as a gray divorce when someone is around 50 years old or older. For instance, divorce rates have been going up for those who are over 45, and they’ve tripled for those who are over 65. Many of these cases are called gray divorces—an important distinction because divorce rates are dropping for younger couples.
But if you’re in your 50s or 60s and you decide to file for divorce, does that mean the process is going to be much different? Will it be more or less complex than if you’d gotten divorced at an earlier age?
It depends on the situation
Everyone’s situation is unique, but a gray divorce can actually be both more and less complex.
On one hand, someone who is getting divorced at this age likely does not have minor children who are still dependent and live at home. They don’t have to work out a child custody schedule with their ex. This takes a lot of potential conflict off the board, and there’s no need to do things like making a parenting plan or setting up a custody schedule. This can make the divorce easier on multiple levels.
On the other hand, however, couples of this age tend to have more financial assets and more tangible assets. They also have complex assets like retirement funds or investment portfolios. When splitting up marital property, it can actually be a bit more complicated at this age than it would be for couples in their 20s and 30s.
No matter what your age is as you move toward a divorce, you can see why it’s so important to understand all of your legal options and the steps you can take.