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10.11.2015

Continued Rise of the Silver Splitters

Divorce rates continue to rise among the over 50's, contrary to the norm. With people living longer, living more active lives and retiring later, many of our older clients are deciding that the prospect of continuing in an unhappy marriage 'til death do part' is an unwelcome prospect. As well as the emotional fall-out, the older divorcees must also address practical issues including how to fund on-going income claims, re-entering the job market at an older age, retirement, sizeable pension shares, inheritance planning, the possibility of remarriage going forward and pre-nuptial agreements.

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The number of people divorcing in later life has been increasing at a time when divorce rates overall have been falling. What's behind the phenomenon of the "silver splitters"?"When I proposed to her, I almost straight away regretted having done that."But the engagement was announced on the front page of his local paper and Peter felt he couldn't back out. "I was weak-willed at the time," he says.Peter married in 1967. Thirty-six years later, at the age of 64, he did back out."I just bundled what I could into the car and went. I do remember her standing on the doorstep. And I did feel sorry - even guilty - then that I was hurting her, really."”