Photo of Professionals at McCoy Fatula, APC
Photo of Professionals at McCoy Fatula, APC

Wine may get better with age but marriage doesn’t always

On Behalf of | Sep 6, 2017 | Divorce

You can probably look back on the different stages of your life and think of a few things you may do differently if given the chance to go back in time and do it all again. On the other hand, you may be one of many California residents who believe that all of life’s circumstances, the good, the bad and the ugly, made them who they are today and therefore they have no regrets.

No matter which side of the coin you happen to be on, what you choose to do moving forward in your later years is entirely up to you, and for some people, that may include a late-in-life divorce. You may have read about a growing trend known as gray divorce without necessarily thinking you’d ever be filing for one yourself. However, things change, problems happen, and those affected must determine how best to address their own situations.

Why would someone married 40 years or more get divorced?

Perhaps you overlooked many problems between you and your spouse during the years you were raising children together. In fact, many couples who stay in unhappy marriages later say they did so for the sake of family unity. Your reasons for wanting to divorce late in life may be similar to some of those others have cited below:

  • Unresolved problems: If you noticed the years slipping by without the main problems in your marriage ever being resolved, you may be among those who simply decide late in life that they no longer wish to live with such tensions.
  • Increased life expectancy: You may be thrilled that you are in good physical and mental health as you approach your golden years; however, living longer means more time for marriage problems to happen.
  • Lack of personal space: Were you surprised at how challenging it is to spend round-the-clock time with your spouse after retirement? If so, you are definitely not alone as this is reportedly a common factor in many gray divorces.
  • Adult children in the house: Nowadays, many adult children (and grand-children) wind up moving back home with their parents/grand-parents. This can place a lot of stress on a marriage that has already endured the challenges of raising kids.

Your adult children may have a tough time understanding your decision to divorce late in life. In addition to the emotional aspects of your decision, you may also run into legal complications involving marital property or estate planning issues. Many California residents reach out for support by discussing their situations with experienced family law attorneys before carrying out their plans in court.

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