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Gray Divorce

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Getting older may get you discounts to the movies, but it does not make divorce easier or cheaper. Although the same rules apply to the old and the young, for those in long term marriages who have not worked outside the home and are suddenly dependent on alimony or their own security, it is a scary time.

Courts usually neither require someone to work after age 65, nor pay long term alimony. What is the dependent spouse to do after a divorce? The Affordable Care Act has been very helpful to dependent spouses, especially one with a pre-existing health issue.

Since 1990, according to an article in the Washington Post, "the divorce rate for Americans over the age of 50 has doubled, and more than doubled for those over the age of 65. At a time when divorce rates for other age groups has stabilized or dropped, fully one out of every four people experiencing divorce in the United States is 50 or older, and nearly one in 10 is 65 or older, according to a new report by Susan L. Brown and I-Fen Lin, sociologists at Bowling Green State University. More than half of all gray divorces are to couples in first marriages. Indeed, 55 percent of gray divorces are between couples who'd been married for more than 20 years."

The causes for divorce are primarily physical or emotional abuse; alcohol or drug abuse, untreated; cheating; a party recognizing that they are gay and leaving the marriage; and the couple growing apart. It is this last one that can be reversed if both parties are willing. If there are children, efforts should be made. Even adult children find it difficult when parents get a divorce. You can fall back in love again with the help of a good communications' counselor and a willingness to try. It's true that it is cheaper to keep her….or him. Give it a shot.

This post was authored by Lynne Gold-Bikin.  Lynne is a nationally renowned family law attorney who has frequently appeared on the major networks and has been quoted in prominent newspapers and magazines discussing domestic issues.  Winner of numerous awards, Lynne handles divorce and custody matters.  Lynne may be reached at lgold-bikin@wglaw.com.

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