Gray Divorce Financial Specialist
Wall Street compensation, real estate, retirement accounts — New York's equitable distribution requires expertise. This guide shows you exactly what you're entitled to.
Leanne Ozaine, CDFA® & CFP® | Specializing in gray divorce for 50+
Turn Panic Into Power — $97The Problem: After decades of marriage, you're facing divorce in New York — one of the most complex financial environments in the country. Wall Street bonuses, professional licenses, real estate appreciation, deferred compensation... and you've never been the one managing the money.
The Stakes: Studies show women over 50 see household income drop 45% after divorce. Men see theirs drop just 21%. Without understanding exactly what you're entitled to under New York's equitable distribution laws, you could walk away with far less than you deserve — while he keeps the retirement accounts, the deferred comp, and the appreciation.
The Solution: The Fearless Divorce Guide gives you the financial clarity you need — before you sign anything. Know exactly what assets exist, what you're entitled to, and what your post-divorce life will actually look like. Walk into every meeting prepared, not panicked.
If you're over 50 and facing divorce in New York, you're navigating one of the nation's most complex and high-tax divorce environments. Your divorce likely isn't about custody battles—your children are grown, independent, or building their own careers. Instead, your divorce centers on dividing decades of accumulated wealth in a state with unique rules about professional licenses, massive real estate appreciation, and the nation's highest combined state and local taxes.
Here's what makes New York unique for gray divorce: New York uses equitable distribution (not community property like California), but it's the only state where professional licenses and degrees are considered marital property. If you supported your spouse through medical school, law school, or business school, you may be entitled to a share of the enhanced earning capacity that degree created.
If you've never personally managed the household finances—perhaps your spouse handled Wall Street bonuses, real estate portfolios, investment accounts, or professional practice finances while you focused on family and home—you're now facing critical questions about your financial future in one of the world's most expensive regions.
New York is the ONLY state that treats professional licenses and advanced degrees as marital property.
This landmark ruling in O'Brien v. O'Brien (1985) means:
For gray divorce: If you put your spouse through school 25-30 years ago and they've built a lucrative career (physician, lawyer, investment banker), you may be entitled to significant compensation beyond just dividing current assets.
New York uses equitable distribution—assets are divided "fairly" but not necessarily equally. This is different from California's strict 50/50 community property rule.
New York courts divide only marital property, defined as property acquired during marriage from the date of marriage to the date of filing for divorce (or date of separation in some cases).
Marital property includes:
Separate property (not divided):
The commingling issue: In long marriages (20-40 years), separate property often becomes marital property through commingling. For example, if you inherited money but deposited it into a joint account used for household expenses, it likely became marital property.
New York law requires a fair division based on specific factors, not an automatic 50/50 split:
Factors courts consider:
For gray divorce: After 20-40 years of marriage, New York courts often divide assets close to 50/50, but significant factors (like supporting a spouse's professional education or career) can lead to 60/40 or even 70/30 splits.
New York has some of the nation's highest taxes, critically affecting divorce planning:
Tax rates:
Divorce planning implications:
New York (especially NYC) is the global finance capital. High-earning finance professionals have complex compensation:
For those new to Wall Street compensation: Finance industry pay is extremely complex, heavily weighted toward bonuses and equity, and often subject to vesting schedules and clawback provisions.
New York real estate—especially in Manhattan and wealthy suburbs—has appreciated dramatically over decades:
NYC real estate considerations:
Property tax considerations: NYC property taxes are relatively low compared to suburbs, but maintenance fees on luxury buildings can exceed $5K-$10K/month.
New York has thousands of high-earning professionals—doctors, lawyers, dentists, accountants. Practices built during marriage are marital property:
New York courts value both tangible assets (equipment, building) and professional goodwill (reputation, client lists, future earning capacity).
For 50+ divorcing New Yorkers, retirement accounts are often the most valuable assets:
Public sector pensions: New York has massive state, city, and teacher pension systems (NYSLRS, TRS, NYCERS) requiring specialized division.
Private sector 401(k)s and pensions: Wall Street firms, corporations, and professional firms offer substantial retirement benefits.
Division requires: Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) for private plans or Domestic Relations Order (DRO) for public pensions.
While not controlled by state law, Social Security is critical for New York gray divorce clients:
If you were married for 10+ years, you can claim Social Security benefits based on your ex-spouse's earnings record (up to 50% of their benefit) without affecting their benefits. This is especially valuable if you didn't work outside the home or had lower earnings.
Important: Remarrying before age 60 terminates your ability to claim on an ex-spouse's record.
New York reformed its alimony laws in 2015, creating a formula-based system with duration guidelines:
Temporary maintenance formula: Based on income differential and capped by statutory formulas.
Post-divorce maintenance duration guidelines:
For gray divorce: After a 30-year marriage, maintenance duration guidelines suggest 10.5 to 15 years. Courts can deviate from guidelines based on specific factors, but New York no longer awards permanent lifetime alimony.
While our primary focus is gray divorce (50+ with grown children), some clients have high school or college-age children. New York uses an income-based formula and has some of the nation's highest child support amounts. However, for most 50+ clients, children are financially independent, and divorce planning centers entirely on asset division and retirement security.
Highest concentration of wealth: NYC metro area has more millionaires and billionaires than any other region.
Professional license valuation: Unique to New York, creating additional complexity and value.
Wall Street compensation: Finance industry bonuses, carried interest, and equity compensation require sophisticated valuation.
Real estate appreciation: Decades of NYC and suburban real estate ownership creates enormous wealth—and enormous division complexity.
We provide virtual divorce financial planning services throughout New York State. Explore detailed guidance for these major metro areas:
Wall Street finance, professional licenses, luxury real estate, co-op apartments, high-net-worth divorces in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens.
Learn more →Commuter wealth, corporate executives, professional practices, luxury suburbs in Scarsdale, Bronxville, Rye, Chappaqua.
Learn more →North Shore estates, South Shore beaches, professional practices, business ownership in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.
Learn more →Second homes, real estate portfolios, creative industry income, retirement planning in Dutchess, Orange, Ulster Counties.
Learn more →Manufacturing pensions, healthcare practices, affordable upstate living, Rust Belt retirement planning.
Learn more →Healthcare and education sector pensions, affordable Central New York, university town wealth.
Learn more →State government pensions, public sector benefits, capital region real estate, NYSLRS pension division.
Learn more →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 spousal support, assets, and earning potential — 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.
The asset identification system helps you find accounts and property 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 — $97New York's unique laws (professional licenses as property!), very high taxes, and complex wealth require sophisticated planning. Whether you've managed Wall Street finances for decades or you're learning about equitable distribution for the first time, we provide the education and guidance you need.
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