Retirement Divorce Specialist
Pensions, Social Security, retirement accounts — Florida's 2023 alimony reform changed everything. This guide shows you what to protect.
Leanne Ozaine, CDFA® & CFP® | Specializing in gray divorce for 50+
Turn Panic Into Power — $97If you're divorcing in The Villages or Central Florida's retirement communities, you represent the epitome of gray divorce. The Villages requires residents to be 55+, so custody battles are never your concern—your children are adults with families of their own. Your divorce centers entirely on dividing retirement income, real estate, golf memberships, recreation amenities, and decades of accumulated savings.
This is especially common if you've never personally managed retirement accounts. Perhaps your spouse handled pension distributions, Social Security planning, investment withdrawals, and Medicare decisions. Now you're facing questions like:
You've heard about Florida's 2023 alimony reform. You know things have changed.
But do you understand what it means for YOU? After 30 years of marriage, you expected permanent alimony. Now it's gone. Even for marriages of 20, 30, or 40 years — alimony is time-limited and cannot exceed 75% of the marriage length.
Your spouse understands pensions. They've managed the 401(k) for decades. They know exactly where the money is.
You're seeing these retirement statements for the first time — while negotiating a settlement that determines whether you can stay in The Villages.
At 55, 65, or 75 — you don't have time to rebuild. Every dollar you leave on the table is a dollar you can't get back. A 35-year-old can recover from a bad settlement. You can't.
The difference between understanding your retirement accounts and not? It's the difference between staying in your Villages home or having to relocate. Between affording golf and recreation — or watching your lifestyle disappear.
The Villages is America's largest active-adult community (55+) with unique real estate and lifestyle considerations:
Home values: Homes in The Villages range from $200K-$800K+ depending on village location, amenities, and upgrades. Properties purchased 10-20 years ago have appreciated significantly.
Golf carts: In The Villages, golf carts are primary transportation. Custom golf carts can be worth $10K-$30K+ and are titled vehicles in Florida. They're marital property if purchased during marriage.
Lifestyle memberships: Many residents belong to country clubs, golf clubs, or recreation centers requiring membership bonds or fees. Who keeps the memberships post-divorce?
Community lifestyle: The Villages lifestyle (daily activities, social scene, recreation) is central to many residents' lives. Can both spouses afford to stay, or does one need to relocate?
The Villages residents are typically fully retired, living on fixed incomes from multiple sources. Divorce requires dividing:
At 65+, most Villages residents are on Medicare, but healthcare planning is still critical:
Many Villages residents maintain second homes up North (summer homes in Michigan, Ohio, New York, etc.). These must be valued and divided:
For retirees in The Villages divorcing after 20-40 years of marriage, the 2023 alimony reform has significant impact:
Retirement age provisions: The new law allows reduction or termination of alimony when the payor reaches normal retirement age. For Villages residents already retired, this affects calculations differently.
No permanent alimony: Even after 35-40 year marriages, alimony is time-limited. Duration cannot exceed 75% of marriage length.
What this means for Villages gray divorce: You cannot rely on permanent support. Asset division—especially retirement accounts and real estate equity—becomes critical for lifetime income security.
In The Villages and Central Florida retirement communities, we work almost exclusively with gray divorce (55-75+ age range, 20-40+ year marriages). Here's what makes it financially complex:
When you're already retired and living on pensions, Social Security, and investment distributions, divorce means dividing limited income:
The Villages offers relatively affordable Florida retirement compared to Naples or Miami, but post-divorce affordability matters:
Many of our Villages clients—particularly those who worked outside the home but let their spouse handle retirement planning—now need to understand:
You're not alone: Retirement income management is learnable, even if you've never done it before. We help you understand your income sources and how to make them last.
Villages residents (55+) never have minor children. Divorce planning centers entirely on dividing retirement income, assets, and ensuring both spouses can maintain lifestyle through their remaining years.
As a Villages or Central Florida resident, your divorce follows Florida's equitable distribution system:
2023 alimony reform: No more permanent alimony, even after 30-40 year marriages. Asset division is critical for retirement security.
Learn more about Florida's divorce laws and 2023 alimony reform →
We provide virtual divorce financial planning services throughout Central Florida, including:
The 5-step system that shows you what you'll actually live on, so you stop guessing and start knowing.
Calculate your real post-divorce income — including pension division, Social Security, and retirement account distributions — so you negotiate from facts, not fear.
Document gathering checklists tell you exactly what to bring to your attorney — so you walk in prepared, not panicked.
Map out your real expenses as a single person — before you fight for something you can't actually maintain on one retirement income.
The asset identification system helps you find 401(k)s, pensions, IRAs, and annuities you might not even know exist.
22-page guide + video tutorials + checklists + templates
$97
Instant access. 100% money-back guarantee.
Get the Clarity You Need — $97Whether you've managed retirement income for years or you're learning about pension division for the first time, we provide the education and guidance you need.
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