“I’m 63 years of age and I can’t be living like this,” says now talk show host Sharon Osbourne. She is talking about her marriage with well-known rocker Ozzy Osbourne. The couple has been married for more than 30 years and is reportedly at the beginning of a divorce that’s already making headlines.
In previous posts we have discussed older couples ending their long-term marriages. These kinds of splits have taken on their own term, “gray divorce.” While neither Sharon nor Ozzy is looking gray (they still rock their black rock star duds), they do fit into that classification. This newly-announced divorce reflects the trend of gray divorce.
The New York Times reports that the rate of gray divorces doubled between 1990 and 2011. For someone like Sharon Osbourne, making the bold decision to file for divorce might not be as scary as it is to a more average person. Sure, Ozzy is the famous rock musician, but Sharon has built a career in her own right, currently as a TV show host.
Overall, the Osbournes are wealthier than the average Georgia couple. They likely have fewer worries regarding their retirement savings and how they can afford to retire with the lifestyle that they both desire in their golden years. Still, they have surely accumulated many assets throughout the course of their marriage. While neither party in the Osbourne divorce is likely worried about their overall finances post-split, the matter of property division (real estate, for example), can get heated in any divorce.
If you are nearing retirement and thinking about divorce, don’t let fear of the future close you off from discussing your legal options. A lawyer experienced with gray divorces, as well as a financial planner, can address your concerns and help you make a more educated decision about your future. Maybe you are like Sharon Osbourne and just can’t live as you are anymore.
