When most people in Virginia think about a divorcing couple, they often think of couples with young children, prompting a child custody and support battle. However, some attorneys are seeing a different demographic of people who also file for divorce. In fact, when a couple over the age of 50 ends their marriage, it is known as a gray divorce. One attorney claims that the number of gray divorces has increased from 25 to 30 percent over a two-year period.
One couple who chose to divorce after decades of marriage details the reasons behind their decision. They married at a young age. Though they now concede that they likely always had differing interests, their children held them together. Once their children were older, they chose to end their marriage. Though they claim that it was difficult to initially come to that decision, they appear to be content now that they have arrived at it.
Though people going through a gray divorce do not typically have to worry about child custody issues, they do have to worry about how they will split their finances. In some cases, a couple may have significant funds, including retirement accounts, that must be divided equitably. Often, this process can be complicated.
Though emotions often run high for couples in Virginia who file for divorce, there are those who are able to peacefully come to an agreement regarding the division of their assets. With the help of an experienced professional, these couples are often able to arrive at a faster, less expensive resolution. Some couples who choose to end their marriage after decades together are able to continue to have an amicable relationship, including continuing to have family dinners with their adult children.
Source: wjla.com, “Gray Divorce: Couples parting ways after decades of marriage“, Alexis Arnold, May 30, 2018
