Fort Worth, TX Grey Divorce Attorney

Supportive Lawyer for Grey Divorces in Fort Worth

For older couples, divorce can be a challenging subject to navigate, especially after a long marriage. If you are divorcing over the age of 50—known as a grey divorce—you may have some anxieties about how your life will be affected after the final decree. To safeguard your interests, reach out to our Fort Worth, Texas grey divorce lawyer for representation and counsel.

At The Law Office of J. Kevin Clark P.C., we have decades of experience handling divorces on behalf of our clients. Over the course of his career, Attorney J. Kevin Clark has handled numerous different kinds of family law cases. Whatever your concerns, you can rely on our firm to provide you with compassionate, straightforward legal guidance.

Dividing Retirement Accounts in a Grey Divorce

When spouses over 50 contemplate divorce, retirement accounts often represent a household's most significant asset. In Texas, retirement plans such as 401(k)s and pensions are community property subject to equitable division, and the use of a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) is essential to protect tax-deferred status.

A QDRO is a specialized court order directing a plan administrator to allocate a portion of the participant's benefits to the former spouse. Without it, distributions may incur early withdrawal penalties and unnecessary income taxes. In Fort Worth, negotiating the percentage of each account must take into account age, years until retirement, and fees associated with account partitioning. Our firm can work to prevent delays in plan implementation and safeguard your financial interests with your retirement funds in mind.

Spousal Support for Older Couples in Texas

Spousal maintenance in Texas is available when one spouse lacks sufficient property or income to meet reasonable needs, and the other spouse possesses the ability to pay. In a grey divorce, courts weigh factors such as the duration of the marriage, the age and health of each party, and the earning capacity compromised by marital roles.

Older couples may find that long-term maintenance awards bridge gaps in Social Security eligibility or pension vesting schedules. It is vital for Fort Worth spouses to document household contributions, career interruptions for child or elder care, and any health-related expenses.

Our attorney can advocate for maintenance that reflects actual needs, like health insurance premiums, assisted living contingencies, or deficits in retirement savings. We also represent spouses who are asked to pay support, arguing for a resolution that does not unfairly burden the obligor.

Other Concerns in Grey Divorces

Beyond dividing assets and addressing maintenance, grey divorces present unique emotional and financial challenges. Adult children may struggle with loyalty conflicts, resent changes to inheritance expectations, or face uncertainty about family gatherings and caregiving roles.

Additionally, determining separate versus community property can prove contentious when premarital retirement savings, inheritances, and gifts must be traced through decades of joint accounts. Fort Worth residents must also consider how a divorce will affect Social Security benefits. A spouse may qualify for up to 50 percent of the other's retired worker benefit if the marriage lasted at least 10 years, but applying for those benefits at the optimal time requires coordinated timing.

Health care coverage gaps, long-term care planning, and estate planning revisions demand careful attention to ensure that future medical needs or end-of-life decisions align with newly independent circumstances. Our attorney can discuss your case with you, working out a strategy to help you end your marriage in a position of comfort.

Meet With Our Fort Worth, Texas Grey Divorce Lawyer

Grey divorce often comes with a slew of questions about the future. At The Law Office of J. Kevin Clark P.C., we can guide you through these proceedings to help make sure that you are taken care of. To schedule a free consultation, call our office at 817-348-6723 or contact our Fort Worth grey divorce attorney.