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Tips for Going Through A Gray Divorce

According to a study conducted by the National Center for Family & Marriage Research at Bowling Green University, one in four divorces in 2009 occurred to persons ages 50 and older. This amount is double what it was in 1990 and, due to an aging population in the United States, is only likely to increase over time.

Divorce at an older age is typically more difficult than for younger people when it comes to recovering one’s financial health. Spouses going through a divorce over the age of 50 are

likely to have significant decisions to make on how to split their assets and restructure their retirement plan, as well as when it comes to issues involving the payment of alimony and child support. The stakes are often greater because the assets tend to be larger for gray divorcees, and the consequences of a wrong decision are far graver simply because the clock is ticking and there is not as much time to make up for any bad decisions.

So what should someone who is over 50 and going through a divorce be aware of both during the divorce proceedings and after the divorce is final to help them transition smoothly into the next stage of their lives?

Click here to continue reading the original article from The Huffington Post.

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Though Now Apart, We Faced a Common Enemy

After our divorce, we didn’t want to lose the friendship. We still helped each other through the hard times.

Last April I was eating my salad in front of the TV when the beautifully coifed anchor on “Entertainment Tonight” announced, “After the commercial break we go to a story you won’t believe: a man killed by a swan in Des Plaines, Illinois.”

I put down my salad and ran to call my ex-husband.

“Turn on Channel 3,” I told him. “They’re going to do a story about a swan that killed someone.”

Fred is the only person I know who would understand the urgency or relevance of my phone alert; he and I were once attacked by a murderous swan. We hung up and went to our respective televisions. We were finding our way into a stage in our relationship that didn’t have an easy label. Were we “broken”? I have always hated that label. As a therapist, I didn’t refer to divorced families as broken.

When we divorced after seven years of marriage (preceded by two decades of friendship), our friends prepared to take sides, hear complaints and grievances, and close ranks. After the official decree, we looked at each other outside the courtroom and asked, “Now what?”

Click here to continue reading the original article from the New York Times.

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Post Divorce: Vehicle Title Transfers

During divorce proceedings, many couples will need to transfer vehicle titles as part of the final settlement of assets. It is important to know that when a court grants ownership of a vehicle from one person to another, sales tax is not due. 

In marriage dissolution, a transfer of title is not taxable if the transfer is part of the property settlement or divorce decree. A certificate setting forth the facts and signed under penalty of perjury must accompany the application for title transfer or application for transfer of license or registration. Not only does this waive any sales tax but this also saves the transferee the initial $225 registration fee.

To learn more about the transfer of ownership by operation of law as outlined in Florida Statute 319.28, click here.

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Reducing Stress Through Divorce Mediation

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, divorce is a common cause of stress for millions of Americans. While nothing can fully remove stress from the divorce process, there are a number of ways to reduce it significantly. One of the most basic ways is to pursue a divorce process that is not adversarial in nature. When most couples think of divorce, they think of a long, drawn-out legal battle between two sides. However, divorce doesn’t have to be like this. Divorce mediation can help to reduce the combativeness associated with a divorce and allow the couple to focus on what matters most during this difficult time.

To learn more about mediation and how it can help reduce stress during divorce, click here.