Surrey Homes | SH13 | November 2015 | Gift supplement inside

BUSS MURTON advertorial
Is marriage still “Till death us do part”?
Current statistics show a
significant increase in
the divorce rate among
the over 55s. This may
at first sight seem
strange, after all if a couple has
made it to their 50s or 60s and are
still married, it might suggest that
things can’t be that bad! However
we know that many couples decide
to stay together “for the sake of the
children” and so once those children
have grown up and flown the nest,
they may then feel free to separate.
Financially, options may open up as
mortgage payments come to an end
and the equity in what may now be
an unnecessarily large family home,
becomes available for division.
Melanie den Brinker
Margaret Evans
However whilst these and other
factors may play their role in the
decision to separate, research
suggests that improvements in
health and life expectancy, mean
that couples are now not only
living together for far longer than
has previously been the case, but
possibly for longer than many
relationships can endure. Apparently
the perfect partner to bring up
a family with, is not necessarily
the perfect partner to grow old
with. The main explanation for
this increase in “grey divorce”
may therefore simply be that
more relationships are reaching
their expiry date and couples are
finding themselves facing a long
and hopefully healthy retirement
with someone they no longer love
or even want to spend time with.
In many ways, the age at which a
couple decides to divorce makes
no difference to the issues which
need to be considered, but when
it comes to retirement, divorce
can have a huge impact. In our
experience, however large the
pension pot, it can come as a
shock when couples realise how
modest the resulting income can
be once that pension pot has to
stretch between two households.
The good news however is that
proper planning can maximise
the available pension income and
so reduce the impact of divorce.
It is therefore crucial for anyone
contemplating divorce and who is
retired or is nearing retirement, to
take expert advice in relation to
the legal and financial implications
and consequences of a divorce.
At Buss Murton we work
closely with independent
financial advisors with specific
expertise in advising on
pensions and divorce in order
to ensure that our clients
have the best possible advice
on these crucial issues.
To arrange a free 30 minute
initial consultation, please
contact Louise Huxstep on
01892 502 338 or at
lhuxstep@bussmurton.co.uk
BUSS MURTON
COMMERCIAL & PERSONAL SOLICITORS
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