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Years ago, divorce was unheard of among older adults. Many individuals who suffered from marital problems that are currently part of the sixty and over generation, lived separate lives but remained married one another. One of the main reasons a pair would remain together, despite his or her differences, was that divorce was not socially acceptable at that time. However, today, the divorce rate is much higher, with approximately 67% of all marriages in the United States resulting in divorce.

According to a study, most divorces occur within the first ten years of marriage. Typically, if there are children involved, many individuals will delay getting a divorce for as long as possible.

According to statistics, there has been an increase in the number of people obtaining a divorce at an older age. A report by Pew Research Center, found that it is very common for senior citizens in the United States to get divorced. According to the report, the number of individuals over the age of 65 who are getting divorced has tripled in the last 30 years. With that being said, like younger couples, there are many emotional complexities involved in the divorce process.

The one benefit to couples over sixty getting divorced is that more often than not, there are no minor children involved. Therefore, there will not be a custody dispute. In addition, while it is still difficult to deal with a parent’s divorce, adult children may have an easier time understanding what is occurring as opposed to younger children. However, like young children, older children will express anger and blame as well. Sometimes, an older child may refuse to bring over the grandchildren as a way of showing his or her resentment.

When it comes to the division of property, young couples may have very little assets or retirement accounts, while older couples often have a lot more. For many older couples, selling a family home may not be a viable option for emotional or financial reasons. In this case, the party who is not residing in the property will be placed as a lien holder and will receive a share of equity upon the sale of the house. Like younger couples that have assets together, any property obtained during the course of the marriage is community property. This may include retirement accounts, which would allow the non-account owner to receive a lump sum, maintain an interest in the account, or transfer their portion into a tax-deferred account.

While there may be less fighting and animosity in a divorce between older couples, there are still complexities and it is an emotional and overwhelming process. Ending a marriage is not easy, but it may be necessary. The lawyers at Larry McCord & Associates, LLC have experience representing spouses in all aspects of matrimonial law. Please contact Larry McCord and Associates, LLC at (631) 643-3084 to learn more about the firm’s services and approach to disputes.

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