Is it Ever Too Late to Get Divorced?
You finally made it to retirement. You now have the time and money to do all the things you wanted to do, like travel the world with your spouse. However, now that you’re spending 24/7 with your husband or wife, you’re discovering that you’re not as happy as you expected to be. Your husband does nothing but complain all day. Your wife spends her days on the couch watching TV. Your spouse doesn’t want to do anything with you. You feel bored and lonely.
This wasn’t what you expected retirement to be like. You wanted to get out of the house and do things, but your partner is content staying home and doing the same thing day after day. You two rarely talk. You’re miserable. So what happens next? You’re 75 years old and in good health. Are you resigned to a miserable marriage ? Is it too late to divorce or can you move on and find happiness, despite your age?
Decades ago, it was pretty much unheard of for people in their 70s to divorce. Once you hit that age, you were pretty much married for life. However, times have changed since your parents retired. A marriage no longer has to last forever. Gray divorces are on the rise, with the rate of divorce among couples over the age of 50 doubling between 1990 and 2010.
However, divorcing is not the best decision you can make in your retirement. It takes money to divorce, and if you’re both on fixed incomes, that can be a challenge. It can take up to five years to rebuild your life after a divorce, so if you’re pushing 80, that can be a daunting task. However, if you feel the grass is greener, then you shouldn’t wait any longer. Many people who have divorced later in life feel more liberated, especially women. Overall, they seem more capable of moving on, unlike men, who tend to regret their decision.
There is no age limit to divorce. If you want to divorce at 80, 90 or even 100 years old, you can certainly do so, as long as you are deemed mentally capable of making such a decision. However, this is a major decision, so you’ll want to think it through. Look at your finances and crunch some numbers to see how you can live alone with solely your income.
Don’t expect your spouse to take the news of divorce well. Expect anger and badmouthing, but be firm in your decision. Have a support group of friends and family members. It’s important to have a social life after your divorce. Otherwise, you could get lonely, and that can lead to depression.
Seek Legal Help
You may feel bad that divorce has crossed your mind now that you’re retired, but take solace knowing that you’re not alone. Gray divorce is on the rise, as people are living longer and finding out that they are miserable being with their spouse after 40 or 50 years.
You don’t have to be old and miserable. There’s no age limit on divorce, so if you’re certain you want to end your marriage, Fort Lauderdale divorce attorney Edward J. Jennings, P.A. can help. No matter your age, a peaceful divorce is possible. To schedule a consultation, fill out the online form or call 954-764-4330.
Resource:
considerable.com/life/divorce/should-i-get-divorce/
https://www.ejj-law.com/what-happens-to-a-wedding-ring-after-divorce/
