Later-life divorce is becoming increasingly common in Australia, with more people in their 50s, 60s and beyond choosing to leave long-term relationships, and women are leading the trend. In a recent Daily Telegraph article exploring the rise of so-called “grey divorce”, Michael Tiyce, Principal at Tiyce & Lawyers, shared his experience of the changing reasons people seek family law advice later in life.
Michael recalled representing a client in her 80s who made the difficult decision to leave her marriage. “It took a lot for her to actually make that step”, he said.
When he asked why she had chosen that point in her life to separate, her answer was simple: “I just want to be happy before I die.”
Drawing on more than three decades of experience in family law, Michael said the trend extends well beyond exceptional cases, with a growing number of Australians ending long-term relationships later in life.
“Often children will be of an age where they are leaving home or about to leave home … often it is women who will look around and decide they don’t want to continue in an unhappy or unsatisfactory relationship – they still have a fair bit of life ahead of them.”
Financial complexity increases with age
Michael also highlighted the significant financial complexity that can accompany later-life separation. Unlike younger couples, people divorcing later in life may have accumulated substantial property, superannuation, investments, inheritances and trust interests.
“These ‘grey divorces’ often involve substantial property portfolios, superannuation balances, inheritances, trusts and adult children with decisions made during settlement having lasting implications for retirement, estate planning and long-term financial security”, Michael said.
He also noted an increase in older Australians seeking financial agreements when entering new relationships, often driven by concerns about protecting assets and potential inheritances for adult children.
Michael Tiyce’s comments highlight that later-life separation is not simply an emotional decision. It can involve complex financial and estate planning considerations, making early, specialist legal advice particularly important.
Read the full article here: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/grey-divorce-why-aussie-women-are-driving-a-surge-in-laterlife-divorce/
