On behalf of The Law Office of Gustavo E. Frances, P.A.
Most married couples plan to spend a lifetime together and raise their children to make a difference in the world. But the truth is their desire to stick together through the good and the bad may not be enough to help their relationship stay afloat. Some things you can’t change no matter how hard you try. They keep reappearing like the light of dawn or those annoying files in your computer’s trash bin. Sooner or later you will have to deal with reality. While it may feel that reality arrived too late, the reality is never too early or too late, it is just on time. So instead of seeing a gray divorce like a storm, perhaps you should see it as a way to escape from a lifelong storm. That’s exactly what an unhappy marriage feels like and it is never too late to sail to new horizons.
The storm can be real for couples over 50, who have tried to glue the broken pieces for so many years but it hasn’t worked. But there are challenges, especially when it comes to dealing with complex emotions. There are also financial challenges since retirement is not far ahead. Some couples have to delay retirement and find a new job. There are also those who have given up lucrative opportunities for the sake of their marriage so it’s kind of hard to start working again after so many years.
Some Important Things to Consider
There are some complex financial issues that couples filing for gray divorce may have to deal with, which only an experienced Fort Lauderdale retirement division attorney can handle. Some important aspects to consider, include:
- Dividing sentimental assets: This can be one of the most contentious aspects of a gray divorce. Sometimes it is not even the monetary value of a thing but what it means to you. For instance, the family home is often one of the most sentimental marital assets but in some cases, it may not be possible to keep it.
- Social Security Benefits: If you have worked hard your whole life, you probably want to collect Social Security benefits. Most importantly retirement benefits. But in order to do that, the marriage should have lasted for at least 10 years and the second spouse needs to be somewhere between 62 or full retirement age.
- Retirement accounts: There are some retirement benefits considered community property. But you must work with a Fort Lauderdale property division lawyer to figure it all out. An attorney can help you see the whole picture.
Divorce Assistance
Given the many complex issues, gray divorce often involves, experienced advice before filing for divorce can be very advantageous. Meeting with a Fort Lauderdale divorce lawyer can help you navigate these complex issues and help you focus not so much on the storm but on the amazing outcome.
Many clients in Fort Lauderdale have reached out to us in their time of need and we have never disappointed them. We are here to help you sail through your gray divorce.
