What is a gray divorce?

Divorce can happen to couples at any age. There are couples who get married in their teens or early 20s and get divorced relatively quickly, and there are also couples who stay married into their 60s or 70s before they decide to get a divorce.

A gray divorce refers to couples in the latter bracket. There is no official age at which it becomes a “gray divorce,” but the general idea is simply that the couples are a bit older—typically those who are 50 and above. This type of divorce can be notably different than a split at a younger age.

What are some of the differences?

For one thing, there can be differences when it comes to asset division. A couple in their 60s likely has far more assets than a couple in their 20s, which could include complex assets like investments, real estate or business ownership.

Additionally, older couples are often thinking about retirement. They may want to use a qualified domestic relations order (QDRO) to address splitting up retirement benefits that only one spouse is earning.

In these ways, financial decisions can be more complex—but there are also ways in which a gray divorce can be a bit simpler. Generally speaking, older couples are less likely to have minor children. This means they may not have to come up with a child custody arrangement if their children are already adults who have moved out of the house.

No matter what age a couple is when they get divorced, there can be conflicts or disagreements, and it’s very important for them to understand all their legal options—and their rights—as they go through the process.