Gray Divorce Lawyer
Family law issues are not restricted by time or age. Anyone at any time can face a matter that requires a divorce attorney. More and more often, people are getting divorced later in life. However, in these cases, divorce issues can be much more complex and require a practiced, careful hand to resolve. I am attorney George L. Metcalfe, and I have experience helping people in later stages of life resolve divorce matters successfully and efficiently. At my firm George Lambeth Metcalfe, P.A., in Vero Beach, Florida, clients can feel cared for and confident about their divorce solutions.
Understanding Gray Divorce
This term is used most often to describe divorce that occurs at age 50 or later in life following a long-term marriage. People going through a gray divorce have often been married for many years or even decades and decide to split in the later years of their lives.
There are a variety of reasons this type of divorce is increasing as the years go on. For one, people are living longer and have more time to consider their happiness and mental health. Another reason is that the stigma around divorce has decreased more in recent years, making older people feel more comfortable with ending a marriage that doesn’t make them happy. Shifting priorities, financial stress, empty nest syndrome, or not having to worry about minor children may also be contributing to the rise in divorce among older adults.
However, while gray divorce is becoming more common, that does not reduce the challenges or complexities of this type of divorce. In fact, divorcing later in life can be even more difficult, in some ways, than divorcing young. When a couple has been married for longer, they likely have accumulated more assets, more property and have larger accounts. There are retirement funds, pensions and a whole lifetime of other matters involved when someone gets divorced at a later age.
In cases of gray divorce, it’s especially important to work with a dedicated, experienced attorney. A knowledgeable attorney will understand the unique issues of gray divorce and be able to take them in stride. I am well equipped to help people manage the issues that come with gray divorce and find a resolution that suits their needs and interests.
What To Know About Retirement And Divorce
A retirement account is often the largest asset someone has, especially as people age. So in cases of gray divorce, the retirement accounts are often the most challenging part of property division. For most people, their retirement accounts are considered marital property, which means they are subject to be equally divided during the divorce proceedings. I can help you figure out how your retirement assets will be divided and also assist in developing strategies to help protect these funds.
People thinking about gray divorce may also wonder if it makes more sense to divorce before or after retirement. There is no straightforward or simple answer to this question. However, divorcing before retirement can offer you more financial options. While spouses getting divorced may experience a reduction in their household income, they may be able to compensate for some of this loss if they are still employed after divorce rather than being retired. In most cases, your income can be reduced by anywhere from 23 to 41% after divorce.
Navigating divorce and retirement is complicated, but I can help walk you through your options and answer legal questions about this process. Working with me can help people feel more confident about their situation after divorce.
Find Out More Information
To learn more about how I can help with a gray divorce proceeding, set up an initial consultation. I can evaluate your situation and provide more insight into your options.
To schedule an appointment, call 772-292-0930 or use the online contact form.