In many domestic situations, the children become the reason a married couple stays together. Parents work hard to provide their children with a secure and solid foundation. They put their children first and their relationship second. Once the children leave the home, they only have each other again.
Therefore, they may find no more reason to continue with their marriage. It is no wonder the number of empty-nest divorces is increasing.
Now is the time to make yourself the priority
For such a long time, you and your spouse stayed in an unhappy marriage for the sake of the children. Now that your children have left home, you can prioritize yourselves and find your own happiness outside of your marriage. Of course, you will have several questions before filing for divorce, but at least custody will not be one of them. What will be a significant concern is the division of marital property.
After staying together for at least 18 years, you and your spouse most likely accumulated substantial wealth together. One spouse may have taken on the role of primary caregiver for the children, thus sacrificing their career. It does not matter. Florida is an equitable marital property division state, so you and your spouse should split your marital assets fairly.
An equitable division will ensure that neither spouse will be at a financial disadvantage after the divorce. You can live the life you have always wanted without worrying about money.
Consider a collaborative divorce
In Florida, you do not need to establish fault to file for divorce. You and your spouse can pursue a divorce on the grounds of irreconcilable differences and avoid going to court. Instead, you can collaborate with your lawyers and negotiate a settlement agreement where everyone is happy.
