After 30 years of marriage, you have spent majority of your life dedicated to your family, raising your children, and standing by your husband. Now it seems that that is all coming to an end. Your children are grown and have families of their own. After years of going through the motions, you and your husband have finally decided to call it quits.
While part of you looks forward to the change, you are worried about the future. What will happen once you divorce? Will the divorce settlement provide you with enough to support yourself while you start your new life? With strong planning and an experienced Colorado divorce attorney, your new life might be the one you always wanted. Read further for what you can expect after a grey divorce.
Take control of your finances
If you were not the one in control of the finances during your marriage, it is time to step into that realm. After your divorce, you will be the sole person responsible for managing your income and expenses. Working with a financial advisor in addition to an attorney can help you plan for the future and ensure you have the funds you need to maintain a reasonable standard of living.
Handling real estate
Once you decide to divorce, you and your husband will have to make decisions concerning your jointly owned real estate. For example, does it make more sense for you to keep the main residence while he takes the vacation home? Perhaps it would be more mutually beneficial to sell both properties and split the proceeds.
Health Care
Divorcing late in life means that you now have to decide what you want when the time comes that you need a caregiver. Perhaps you relied on your husband to handle these kinds of decisions while you were married. Consider drafting a health care directive in case you become incapacitated and talk with your children about what to do if you reach a point that you need either a live-in caregiver or to be moved into a long-term care facility.
Family get-togethers
After a divorce, the family dynamic usually changes. After years of hosting holiday meals, things might seem a bit awkward when you children have to divide their time between you and your ex-husband. There is no right way to handle the change. Some families can still celebrate holidays, birthdays, and other special occasions together, while some have to hold separate events. Find the way that works best for your new family dynamic.
If you are facing divorce after several decades of marriage, planning for your new future can help alleviate the stress. Get help negotiating a settlement and protecting your interests.