Divorcing at any age can be both stressful and sad. As you likely know, though, going through a protracted court battle to dissolve your marriage may take an unbelievable toll on both you and your spouse. Opting for a collaborative divorce may be a much better choice.
As you age, your odds of divorcing do not necessarily decrease. In fact, according to the Pew Research Center, the divorce rates for those over 50 have nearly doubled since the early 1990s. For those over 65, divorce rates have almost tripled. While you may not be able to avoid a divorce, you can likely make the dissolution of your marriage both easier and less stressful. Here are four reasons baby boomers often choose collaborative divorce over an adversarial battle:
1. You keep your personal business private
As a middle-aged American, you have had decades to build relationships, grow a business or participate in community activities. Airing your dirty laundry may not be high on your priority list. Unfortunately, though, divorce court proceedings are often part of the public record. If you want to keep your personal business private, opting for a friendly divorce likely makes good sense.
2. You pursue a reasonable compromise
If you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse have been together for years, you may not feel any resentment or anger toward your partner. Alternatively, you simply may not want to fight over who gets what. Either way, pursuing a reasonable compromise may more closely align with your personality than taking your divorce battle to court.
3. You protect your children
As part of an older couple, you may have children and grandchildren to consider. While there is nothing wrong with standing up for yourself and your legal interests, you may find a protracted divorce unseemly. If you want to protect your familial relationships, working together with your spouse to dissolve your marriage may be your best bet.
4. You may save money
Finally, while not all divorce proceedings are expensive, pursuing a collaborative divorce may save you money. After all, if you can reach an acceptable agreement with your partner, you likely have to devote fewer resources to paying attorneys, financial experts, forensic accountants and others.
As a baby boomer, you have been on the planet longer than many others. During your life, you have probably acquired wisdom, temperance and patience. If you do not like the idea of having a knock-down, drag-out fight in open court to dissolve your marriage, opting for an amicable divorce may be a better strategy.
