The cost of retirement in California is expensive, and those who are getting divorced have a legitimate worry that they may not be able to afford to stop working. This is something that they must consider when they are beginning the divorce process because decisions that they make now will impact their future financial plans for the rest of their lives.
The best thing that people can do for themselves if they believe that divorce is an inevitability is to begin to plan for it. At the outset, this means learning everything that they can about their assets and anticipating what their spouse may claim are their own assets that are part of the marital estate.
It is vital to have an overall understanding of finances to know how each choice in the divorce negotiations will affect both the present and future lifestyle. People will need to undertake an objective analysis of the situation to know whether any cutbacks in their standard of living will be necessary. In addition, they should run the numbers to figure out how much the divorce will delay their retirement and whether it will affect their ability to leave money for their children and grandchildren.
Having the assistance of a divorce lawyer is a critical step of the process that should not be skipped. The attorney may give clients a realistic expectation of what they may expect from the divorce process and could then help lay out a strategy for how to proceed in the negotiations. In a gray divorce, knowledge is power, and a divorce attorney might help prepare clients for what is coming.
