In cases of a sudden illness/disability in the family, an accident or simply old age, couples are turning to a Medicaid divorce as an option. After the divorce, the person who doesn't need the health insurance typically gets the house and other assets transferred to their name.
Grey divorce or silver splitter, is a term referring to the demographic trend of an increasing divorce rate for older ("grey-haired") couples in long-lasting marriages.
Alimony is basically defined as one spouse's payment to the other—under a court order or the couple's agreement—after divorce or while a divorce case is proceeding. States use different terms for alimony, such as spousal support and maintenance, but they usually mean essentially the same thing.
The best solution to avoid issues with dividing debt during a divorce is to dissolve joint accounts before going to court. If possible, refinance the house, car and other loans in one person's name. Cancel shared credit cards and pursue credit card balance transfers to have the debt on cards in each person's name.
Pay off or transfer debts ahead of the divorce if possible.
If you don't have the ability to clear those debts before the divorce, it's a good idea to instead transfer them to accounts controlled solely by whichever party the court has ordered to repay the debt.
Getting divorced
Actually filing for divorce doesn't directly impact credit scores, but if you have late or missed payments on accounts as a result, it may negatively impact credit scores. In community property states, property – and debts – acquired during the marriage are generally owned equally by both spouses.
Just like mortgages, the repayment of any joint debts must continue after divorce or separation. Your personal life is of no concern to lenders after all. But of course, you now wish to lead separate lives and an important step toward doing so will be disentangling your finances.
What is a non-working spouse entitled to in a divorce? A non-working spouse is entitled to receive alimony payments from their ex-spouse and can acquire up to 50 percent of property. However, this depends largely on whether they are voluntarily or involuntarily unemployed.
Access to marital home during separation
Where the home is in one persons' name only, the other may still be entitled to stay, even if the owner objects. If the couple are married, the spouse not named as owner still has a right to stay in the home and 'occupy' it.
Ideally, spouses either agree to sell their home or refinance their mortgage so that only one person's name is on it. That former spouse is then responsible for making the mortgage payments each month.
As long as the couple remains married, the court does not set a time limit on spousal support. Maintenance on the other hand, is support the higher-earning spouse pays after the divorce is finalized.
If you live in one of the community property states – Arizona, Wisconsin, California, Washington, Idaho, Texas, Louisiana, New Mexico or Nevada – the law treats all the money you saved as being equally owned by both of you.
Are matrimonial assets split 50/50? No, this is a common misconception. It is not a rule that matrimonial assets be split 50/50 on divorce; however, it is generally a starting point. The court's aim is to divide assets in a way that is fair and equal, but this does not necessarily mean half and half.
Nine states (Arizona, California, Louisiana, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin) have what are known as community property laws, which divide marital property equally upon divorce. Marital property is generally defined as all income, property, and debts acquired during the marriage.
If you're an older couple divorcing after a long-term marriage, it's referred to as a gray divorce or late life divorce.
You Can Damage Your Child Custody Claim
One of the most significant ways moving out can influence your divorce is when it comes to child custody. If you move out, it means you don't spend as much time with your kids. Not only can this harm your relationship, but it can also damage your custody claim.
When the individual leaves the marital home, he or she will expect a right to privacy. The same is true of the spouse that remains in the marital home. Once the individual leaves, he or she may not have a legal right to access the property if there was no upkeep or monetary payments provided for mortgage or rent.
Marriage is connected to a longer lifespan for both men and women. While both genders see a rise in deaths following divorce, the rate for men is 1,773 per 100,000, compared to 1,096 for women.
You can ask for life insurance, a smaller share of your accumulated debt, more of the family heirlooms or jewelry, or a higher percentage of the retirement funds. Just like women, the men can ask for whatever they feel like they're entitled to within the divorce.
Most legally separated couples want to live in different residences, but this isn't always possible or practical, especially when the marriage involves small children. For various reasons, many couples continue living under the same roof while legally separated.
This situation is more about money than law. The law states that half of their income is yours. But if your spouse chooses to ignore this law and cut you off financially you will need a court order to force a spouse to share the income. It will take 90 days to see a judge and to get such a court order.
If Your Spouse Isn't Paying the Mortgage
If your spouse simply stops making mortgage payments, it's a problem that you should address immediately with your dedicated divorce attorney, who may need to file a motion with the court.