Posted on November 21, 2023 in Uncategorized

Once people reach their sixties, they know that their working years are almost over. If they have worked and put away money every month to plan for their retirement, it can feel like they are about to be rewarded for their many years of hard work. However, everyone has different retirement plans: some people work for large companies and are offered packages that include a matching program (the company deposits the same amount into a fund as the employee every month) and stock options, while other people might only have a 401K.

In some cases, one spouse is given a generous retirement package by their employee and the other spouse is not, and the couple might decide to depend on that one plan for their shared future. This arrangement works for many couples, but what happens if a couple gets a divorce? If you find yourself wondering whether you are better off staying in an unhappy marriage to ensure a comfortable retirement, a DuPage County divorce attorney can have an honest conversation and help get you the answers you need to make an informed decision.

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 Posted on November 10, 2023 in Divorce

Illnesses that cause memory loss and cognitive decline, such as dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease, and others, affect many Americans. While it is more common to occur after the age of 70, younger people can be afflicted as well. These diseases take a heavy toll on everyone involved, whether you have the disease yourself or a loved one does. The ways they affect someone cognitively can make it seem like your spouse is not the person you fell in love with and married. 

Gray divorce, or divorce when the spouses are 50 years old or older, can have its own set of complications because the couple is typically separating after a long marriage and may have amassed more assets - or debts - than a younger couple. When one of the spouses has dementia, it can make it even more difficult to navigate. If your spouse has dementia and you are considering divorce, an experienced DuPage County, IL divorce attorney can answer your questions with sensitivity and protect your rights compassionately. 

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 Posted on October 20, 2023 in Divorce

Commonly known as “gray divorce,” when a couple in their fifties or older goes through a divorce, many issues come up that are unique to their specific situation. These couples are generally married for longer than younger couples and are either nearing or already into their retirement years. The financial implications of a gray divorce can be more complicated and very different from those of a divorce for a younger couple. Suppose you are in your fifties or older and considering divorce but do not know where to begin. In that case, an experienced DuPage County, IL divorce lawyer can help clear up some of the confusion and explain how you can help protect your financial future.

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 Posted on October 11, 2023 in Divorce

Otherwise known as “gray divorce,” divorce among couples who are 50 years of age or older has become increasingly common. The divorce rate among Americans in this age range has more than doubled over the last three decades. This is being attributed to several factors, including a longer life expectancy. The thought of getting divorced can be quite stressful if you’ve been married longer than you were ever single in your adult life. If you are 50 years of age or older and are considering divorce but overwhelmed by what it involves, a DuPage County, IL Gray Divorce attorney can answer your questions and help sort through the confusion and anxiety.

How Does Gray Divorce Differ from Other Divorces?

Longer life expectancy is a major reason why more and more older couples are getting divorced. In the past, unhappy couples may have stayed together for the sake of their children, and with a shorter life expectancy, once their children were grown and had moved out, it might have seemed like too drastic a measure for a limited time.

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 Posted on September 13, 2023 in Divorce

Divorce is never easy. Even if both people agree that this step makes the most sense for them, it is not a decision that is reached lightly. This is certainly the case for people over the age of 50 as well. In addition to splitting assets and debts, the couple will need to reconsider their retirement plans.

Fortunately, there are several surprising reasons why gray divorce could be easier than divorce at a younger age. If you are 50 years old or older and you think divorce might be the logical step for you, a Wheaton, IL divorce attorney could help make sense of this confusing time.

Why Is Gray Divorce Considered Complex?

Divorce at any age involves an agreement for asset distribution. The couple needs to split up their assets and debts in an equitable way. However, if you are 50 years old or older when you begin divorce proceedings, more factors might be considered:

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 Posted on September 08, 2023 in Divorce

Divorce always has the potential to be complicated. With divorce for people 50 years or older, this certainly holds true. By the time you have reached your fifties, your life has probably gone through many changes since you first got married. These changes can make it harder to split, financially, physically, and even emotionally. 

If you have been considering a divorce later in life, you might be feeling an added stress that you cannot quite understand. Below is a short list of reasons why this may be. If you are 50 years or older and you are thinking about getting a divorce, a Wheaton divorce attorney can offer you the advice you need to help you make informed decisions.

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 Posted on August 25, 2023 in Divorce

Divorcing later in life brings unique financial challenges. Spousal support, also known as alimony or maintenance, can provide important income for older divorced individuals in Illinois. However, securing fair alimony requires understanding your rights and navigating the complex factors considered under state laws.

Illinois Courts Favor Permanent Alimony

When an older couple divorces in Illinois after a long-term marriage, judges will typically order permanent spousal maintenance that continues until the receiving spouse dies or remarries. The goal is to provide financial support similar to the standard of living enjoyed during the marriage.

Illinois judges do not like limiting alimony with a termination date when dealing with older couples who have been married for over 20-30 years. Permanent spousal support aims to prevent major lifestyle reductions after gray divorce.

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 Posted on August 08, 2023 in Divorce

If you are older than 50 years old and considering divorce, you may feel alone. You may have had friends who got divorced when they were in their twenties and thirties, but you may not know any other couples your own age going through a divorce. While gray divorce can be somewhat more complicated, it is also increasingly common. There are also perks of gray divorce - it is less likely that you will need to worry about child custody concerns, for example. More and more couples are choosing to divorce later in life and start over. While it may be challenging to get divorced at this age, especially if your marriage lasted decades, many older adults find that it is well worth it to be able to live the life they want to, free of an unhappy marriage. There are a number of reasons that an ever-increasing number of adults over the age of 50 are getting divorced, some of which may surprise you. If you are considering a divorce, it is important to work with an attorney who has experience addressing the unique divorce concerns of older couples. 

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 Posted on July 31, 2023 in Divorce

Divorce can be a challenging process, regardless of your age. However, if you and your spouse have decided to end your marriage later in life, you may need to address some unique financial and emotional considerations. The issue of spousal support (also known as alimony) may be a significant concern, and you may need to determine whether this form of support will be necessary, how much you may pay or receive, and how long these obligations will remain in effect.

Understanding Spousal Support

In some divorce cases, a court may determine that one spouse has a legal obligation to make ongoing payments to the other spouse after the dissolution of their marriage. Spousal maintenance, as it is known under Illinois law, is designed to help a spouse with a lower income or who has been out of work for an extended period of time continue living at a similar standard to what the couple enjoyed during their marriage. Spousal support can be awarded in both short-term and long-term marriages, but it can be a particularly important issue in a gray divorce.

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 Posted on July 11, 2023 in Divorce

There is quite a lot of information out there designed to help younger spouses going through a divorce care for their minor children throughout the process. While there is no doubt that a parents’ divorce can be challenging for minor children, it can also be challenging for adult children when their older adult parents get divorced. Although your children may not live with you anymore, there will still be changes in the family structure they must cope with. Your children may even have children of their own who may be surprised to learn that their grandparents are splitting. If you have not yet told your adult children about your impending divorce, you may be concerned about how they will react. Although your children are now grown, they are still your children and your divorce may have an impact on them. Knowing how to approach talking to your adult children about your divorce can go a long way towards keeping the peace in your family. 

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