Jennifer Abrams

What is Grey Divorce? Grey divorce is the increasing divorce trend that has grown quite common in the 21st century. It refers to the people who are old and ‘graying’, who have been in long marriages, and who are now going through the divorce process. Getting a divorce after spending most of your lives together can be extremely challenging. Not only is it financially distressing but it is also emotionally disturbing. If you’re going through a grey divorce, your situation is different than younger divorcing spouses. Here are a few challenges to keep in mind when going through a grey divorce. Reasons for Grey Divorce Growing Apart Most grey divorces occur because the couples have grown apart. Even though they have spent a huge chunk of their lives with each other, in some cases, couples do drift apart. In many cases, couples only stay together so they can provide a better life to their children but once their children move out, they do not see a reason to stay together. Infidelity Since grey divorces occur between people who are old and ‘greying’, there is a huge chance that they believe that their marriage has lost the spark. This notion can lead to infidelity from any party that can result in a divorce. Challenges of a Grey Divorce Retirement Benefits In a grey divorce, you and your ex-spouse will split your combined assets but retirement benefits are an entirely different story. It is best to discuss what you are going to do about your respective retirement benefits with your Las Vegas divorce attorney. This will help you avoid any legal complications later on in the process. Most grey divorce couples are okay with splitting their retirement benefits equally but in some cases, it may pose a huge challenge. For example, if one spouse has worked their whole life compared to the other spouse who has not worked as long, the one who has worked for more years may feel entitled to ask for more money. It is best to contact a divorce lawyer in Las Vegas before things between you and your spouse stop being civil. Health Insurance If you and your ex-spouse both have individual health insurance this won’t affect you. But if one of you does not, a divorce can pose as a huge drawback. If you had health insurance benefits that were provided by your spouse, you will no longer have health insurance after the divorce is finalized. People who are going through a grey divorce are in their early 60’s or late 50’s which means there is a greater chance of them needing health care. Besides health insurance, an ex-spouse may ask to remove their now divorced spouse from their life insurance policy. This is not an area to be trifled with. It’s better to contact a divorce attorney to learn more about how your health and life insurance policies should be handled. Challenges for Adult Children If you’re a participant of a grey divorce, chances are your children don’t live with you. If that’s the case, it means that they have their own lives and are not completely dependent on you. Your children are old enough to not blame themselves, however, that does not mean their parents getting separated will be any easier on them. Many adult children want to equally support both parents. They want to support their parents through this hard time in their lives, and that can cause various issues in their personal and professional lives. Contact our office at 702-222-4021 to learn more about grey divorce.