According to many recent reports, the divorce rate for senior citizens has doubled over the last 25 years. And while that information may be disturbing to many seniors, this trend will probably continue. But senior citizens who decide to divorce may be unaware that certain aspects of a divorce can affect them differently than a younger couple who gets divorced. But exactly what divorce areas can be different for seniors?
One issue that plays a significant part in a senior divorce is the couple's retirement plans. While both parties may have had their own retirement plans, a divorce court is likely to divide these investments evenly between both spouses. That means that each divorced spouse will only have half of the retirement income that they would have had if they remained together. This reduction in potential post-divorce retirement income can seriously affect the spouses' quality of life.
Another factor that can really impact seniors who get divorced is alimony. While a younger couple may only get temporary alimony because they were married a short time, alimony is almost always granted during a senior divorce. Some states can even grant a divorcing senior alimony for life. And while this will not apply to all divorce cases, experts agree that if one of the senior partners is working, some form of alimony will probably be awarded.
Seniors who are ending their marriage may also want to avoid trying to hold on to their marital house as part of their divorce settlement. However, any Virginia senior who is getting a divorce may want to speak to a divorce attorney in order to learn about additional factors that can affect the end of their marriage.
Source: money.usa.com, "7 things to know about divorcing during your senior years", Accessed September 5, 2016
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