An empty nest divorce is one where the children of the divorcing couple are all grown up and have already left the family home. Gray divorce, on the other hand, refers to when a person 50 years of age or older goes through a divorce. The gray divorce trend could be a byproduct of the empty nest divorce trend because it takes years for a child to grow and move out. It could take even longer when you have more kids. Therefore, it is essential to understand why people file for divorce when their children leave.
Understanding the ‘Empty Nest Divorce’ trend
When a couple falls in love, they are typically young and heavily influenced by the emotions and hormones flooding throughout their bodies. They have yet to understand the full implications of providing a home and parenting while maintaining a solid and fulfilling marriage. As a result, the children become the priority instead of the relationship.
The children are the foundation of your marriage. After they leave, you and your spouse realize that you have nothing left in common with each other. You only stayed together for the kids. Now, you are both contemplating divorce and figuring out how to redefine your relationship.
If a divorce makes the most sense, it could be because you are finally prioritizing yourself. Your marital relationship and kids do not define who you are, and a divorce certainly will not. It should not matter what other people think. You deserve to live the life that you want, especially since you have already fulfilled your parental responsibilities. However, a divorce does come with financial considerations.
The financial consequences of a divorce will not change
Although you no longer pay for tuition or childcare, a divorce will come at a cost regardless of what age or stage you are in life. It can be particularly challenging to divide your marital assets after having lived together for several years. Florida is an equitable distribution state. If you let the court decide, you may not receive the property or assets that mean the most to you. You must plan accordingly and discuss options with your former spouse.
After putting your children at the front and center of your life for so many years, now could be the time to find out who or what truly makes you happy.