Divorce later in life, often called “grey divorce”, comes with a unique set of challenges. If you are over 50 and heading toward retirement, the idea of spending large amounts of money on lawyers and court battles can feel overwhelming. That’s where Collaborative Divorce comes in.
Collaborative Divorce gives couples the chance to work together respectfully to make decisions about their future. It focuses on keeping both people financially and emotionally whole as they move forward. This approach is especially helpful when you are no longer raising children and can focus more on being present for your grandchildren and enjoying your retirement.
Choosing a respectful divorce process is also a gift to your adult children. Instead of putting them in awkward situations, like having to choose between parents at graduation or for holidays, you can show them that it is possible to separate with dignity and kindness for your ex-spouse.
How Collaborative Divorce Works
In a Collaborative Divorce, you and your spouse work with a team of professionals, including your own lawyers along with neutral mental health professionals, and divorce financial experts. Together, they help you identify your goals, needs, and priorities. Instead of fighting to “win” in a courtroom, you work together to create solutions that both of you agree on. The goal is for you and your spouse to walk away feeling respected and financially secure.
The collaborative process also puts decision-making power in your hands. Rather than letting a judge decide your future, you and your spouse work together, with support from your collaborative team, to find creative, customized solutions.
What Makes a Grey Divorce Different?
When you divorce later in life, you often have more complex finances: pensions, retirement savings, property, and long-term plans to consider. You may no longer be able to “make up” financial losses, so it is especially important to be smart and intentional about how you divide your assets. Your Collaborative Divorce team of professionals understand this and will help you preserve what you have worked to build.
Rather than just dividing everything down the middle, the team helps you find the best arrangement. One that allows you both to enjoy a secure and dignified retirement.
Marla Miller is a senior family law lawyer with Miller Boileau Family Law Group in Edmonton, Alberta. With decades of experience, she is committed to helping families navigate separation and divorce with compassion, clarity, and long-term success. Marla is a strong advocate for Collaborative Divorce and Mediation and helping clients build a positive foundation for the next stage of life.
Miller Boileau Family Law Group is located at 10981 127 St. NW, Edmonton, Alberta T5M 0T1
If you’re considering divorce later in life and want to protect your future while staying out of court, call Miller Boileau Family Law Group today at 780-482-2888.
Early in her legal practice, influenced by her late uncle who was a Justice of the Court of Queen’s Bench, Marla Miller, K.C. became a Family Law Mediator. She has been helping families through mediation for over 30 years. In 2001 she, along with Pierre Boileau, K.C. and others, was one of the founding members of the Association of Collaborative Professionals (Edmonton). She has been an active volunteer with that Association ever since.
One of the first Family and Divorce Lawyers in Edmonton to make a commitment to give up litigation as an option, Marla remains passionate about helping her clients settle outside of court by finding agreements that meet their needs and interests. As both a Registered Collaborative Family Lawyer and a Registered Family Mediator, Marla is one of the most experienced family Mediators in Edmonton.