What is a gray divorce? A gray divorce is when you’ve been recently divorced or your spouse has been recently deceased. It’s called a “gray” divorce because it falls between the traditional black and white of divorce, where both parties are single or widowed.
A gray divorce is the term used to describe a divorce that occurs when either party is over the age of 50. According to the United States Census Bureau, around 10 million people are affected by gray divorces each year and this number is only expected to grow. There are many benefits of gray divorces and there are also some drawbacks.
The term “gray divorce” was first used in the early 2000s to describe what was happening to a group of people around the age of 50. These people were divorcing and remarrying later in life. The main reasons for this are the higher standard of living and the longer lifespan. Today, you might think this is not a thing anymore, but it is on the rise again again due to similar circumstances.
Wondering what a gray divorce is?
In the simplest terms, it’s when one couple decides to get a divorce late in their lives — sometimes after 50 years of marriage. Gray divorces are becoming more and more common as people wait to settle down and start families until later in life. As the overall population ages, more and more couples have at least one partner who is 50 or older. Most divorces happen before people turn 45, so it may not surprise you that the issue of gray divorces has become an issue for lawmakers.
Everyone is familiar with the term “divorce”. When a couple decides to end their marriage, they have to go through a process of legal paperwork. The results of this process will produce one set of spouses who are now officially divorced.
These divorces are called “red” divorces because they are quick and final. But then there’s another type of divorce — one that doesn’t necessarily end your relationship but changes it for years to come. Divorcees may continue living at the same address or even in the same room, but the change can be notable nonetheless. https://legalfacts.org/find-a/divorce-attorney/
Is a Gray Divorce Your Best Option?
Are you reading this because you are facing the reality of a gray divorce? Where either you’re self or your spouse is 50 plus years old and you’ve found that you can no longer make things work together in your marriage? Or are you thinking about leaving an unhappy marriage but are afraid of what will happen once the papers are filed?
Life is full of surprises. Some are great, and others are not so much. After experiencing the loss of my father, I am all too familiar with this fact. My dad passed away in his sleep five years ago when I was still living at home. Needless to say, though it’s been a while, I still miss him every day. When bad things happen, they shake us to our core. Something you may not realize though is how an unexpected change can affect your finances and even your relationship.
This is especially true if you’re married or in a long-term relationship and end up getting divorced (entering into a divorce can be the result of either negative events and circumstances or positive ones.)
Planning and Preparing for a Gray Divorce
According to a recent study by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, divorce rates rise sharply as people age. Here are some tips to help you plan and prepare for a gray divorce.
There are several planning steps individuals can take to get ready for a gray divorce. These steps can be equally beneficial for married and divorced individuals alike.
Unmarried adults tend to be happier than their married counterparts. This should be a warning sign of divorce looming in the middle distance. It turns out that unmarried people have close friends and frequent sex partners. Married couples tend to have just one of those things; they are either very close to their spouses or have lots of outside relationships.
According to a recent study by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, divorce rates rise sharply as people age. Here are some tips to help you plan and prepare for a gray divorce. https://legalfacts.org/
A gray divorce doesn’t need to be more difficult than what you faced with your younger divorces, but it will come with its own set of challenges.
