Gray Divorce Financial Specialist
Pensions, retirement accounts, real estate — 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 — $97If you're over 50 and facing divorce in the Hudson Valley, custody battles aren't your concern—your children are grown, independent, or building careers elsewhere. Instead, you're navigating the financial complexity of dividing second homes, real estate portfolios, creative industry income, and retirement accounts accumulated over decades in one of New York's most scenic regions.
This is especially challenging if you've never personally managed household finances. Perhaps your spouse handled the weekend home in Rhinebeck, investment properties, NYC income from commuting, or creative industry finances while you focused on family and country living. Now you're facing questions like:
Here's what nobody tells you: A "fair" settlement can still leave you struggling.
50/50 sounds equal. But if you take the house and your spouse takes the 401(k), only one of you has retirement income. A pension isn't cash. Tax treatment turns "half" into 40% or 60% depending on which half you take.
Your lawyer knows the law. They don't know what you'll live on for the next 30 years.
Most people sign their settlement while still in emotional shock. The brain is in survival mode — the prefrontal cortex that makes rational decisions is literally offline. By the time the fog lifts, the settlement is final.
You need someone whose only job is protecting your financial future — not billable hours, not legal posturing. Someone who can show you exactly what different settlement scenarios mean for your life 5, 10, 25 years from now.
The Hudson Valley is a popular second-home destination for NYC professionals. These properties are marital property if purchased during marriage:
Common scenarios:
Appreciation: Hudson Valley real estate has appreciated dramatically in the past decade as NYC residents sought more space, especially post-pandemic. Homes purchased for $300K-$500K may now be worth $700K-$2M+.
Many Hudson Valley divorces involve couples who:
Determining which property to keep, which to sell, and how to divide equity requires understanding both properties' roles in retirement planning.
The Hudson Valley attracts writers, artists, musicians, and media professionals. Creative income creates unique divorce challenges:
New York's rule that professional licenses/degrees are property may also apply to creative credentials (MFA degrees, established reputations).
Many Hudson Valley residents commuted to NYC for their careers and now face retirement:
In the Hudson Valley, we work with clients divorcing after 20, 30, or 40+ years of marriage. Here's what makes gray divorce financially complex:
Many Hudson Valley clients own multiple properties:
Dividing these fairly while considering each spouse's retirement goals requires sophisticated planning.
If your spouse has ongoing royalties from books, music, or media work created during marriage, you may be entitled to a share of future royalty income—not just current assets.
Can you afford to retire in the Hudson Valley on one income?
Many of our Hudson Valley clients—particularly those who moved from NYC—have never personally managed multiple properties, rental income, or creative industry finances.
You're not alone: Real estate and creative income management are learnable. We help you understand what you have and how to manage it.
While our primary focus is gray divorce (50+ with grown children), some clients have high school or college-age children. New York child support calculations apply regardless of location. However, for most 50+ clients, children are independent.
As a Hudson Valley resident, your divorce follows New York equitable distribution law:
Maintenance (alimony): Formula-based with duration guidelines. After 30-year marriage, expect 10.5-15 years, not permanent.
Learn more about New York divorce laws and professional licenses →
We provide virtual divorce financial planning services throughout Hudson Valley, 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 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 — $97Whether you've managed real estate portfolios for years or you're learning about property division for the first time, we provide the education and guidance you need.
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