Episode
129

Not Sure You Want a Divorce? How to Prepare Before You Decide, with Jenny Hutt

with
Jenny Hutt
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Episode Description

Should I stay or should I go? If you’re asking yourself “Should I get a divorce?”, I sat down with divorce attorney Jenny Hutt, who is separated from her husband, to talk about why gray divorce has doubled since 1990, why midlife divorce so often hits when the kids leave and an empty nest marriage goes quiet, and what to know before facing divorce after 50. If you’ve looked across the table at the person you’ve built a life with and realized you have nothing to say, you’re not alone.

In this episode, Tamsen sits down with divorce attorney Jenny Hutt, a New York family law attorney and certified divorce mediator, Of Counsel at Wisselman Harounian Family Law, and host of the Just Jenny podcast, to talk about why so many marriages end in midlife and how to make an honest decision about your own.

Jenny, who is separated from her husband, explains why so many couples wait until the kids are out of the house, how losing a parent can bring up the question “How much time do I have left?”, and why the “guns blazing” divorce you see on TV is not how it really works. Tamsen opens up about her own divorce 15 years ago, the shame she felt, and the $100,000 in marital debt she had to dig out of.

In this episode, you'll learn:

  • Why so many marriages end after the kids leave home, and what the empty nest can reveal
  • How losing a parent and facing your own mortality can change the way you see your marriage
  • What gray divorce is, and why divorce after 50 has doubled since 1990
  • Why it’s okay not to know yet: “If you wanna reconcile tomorrow, go reconcile. There is no judgment.”
  • The four things every divorce comes down to: assets, support, parenting and custody
  • Why a good settlement is one where “nobody’s happy, but everybody can live with it”
  • How a consultation with a divorce attorney can help you understand your rights before you decide anything
  • Why the identity shift, from taking off your rings to hearing “Just one?”, can be as hard as the financial hit

Jenny practices family law in New York, and divorce laws vary from state to state, so talk with an attorney where you live about your own situation.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your marriage can be saved or whether it’s time to go, this episode will help you think it through honestly, without shame and without judgment.

Timestamps

0:00 Introduction to Jenny Hutt

01:01 Jenny's Story: A Divorce Attorney Whose Marriage Imploded

03:29 What Is Gray Divorce, and Why Is It Rising?

05:29 Why So Many Couples Wait Until Midlife to Divorce

07:12 How Divorce Works: Assets, Support and Custody

11:13 How to Prepare If You're Not Sure You Want a Divorce

16:36 What Happens After You File for Divorce

19:16 The Financial Hit and the Identity Shift

27:17 Why She Spent Her Savings on a Facelift

30:26 Advice for Getting Through a Hard, Scary Change

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guest appearing in this episode

Jenny Hutt

Jennifer Koppelman Hutt is a New York family law attorney, a certified divorce mediator and Of Counsel at Wisselman Harounian Family Law. She also hosts the Just Jenny podcast. She joins Tamsen on The Tamsen Show.

Other related resources

Hope Edelman on The Tamsen Show: https://www.tamsenfadal.com/podcast/what-no-one-tells-you-about-grief-after-losing-your-mother

You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith: https://maggiesmithpoet.com/book/you-could-make-this-place-beautiful/

Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/760850/strangers-by-belle-burden/

Family law attorney Laura Wasser: https://wcmfamilylaw.com/laura-wasser/

All’s Fair on Hulu: https://www.hulu.com/series/alls-fair-65e808bd-2703-452d-bf62-d941d9d799fd

The Gray Divorce Revolution (Brown & Lin, The Journals of Gerontology, 2012): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3478728/

The Graying of Divorce: A Half Century of Change (Brown & Lin, 2022): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9434459/

Tamsen Fadal and Jenny Hutt in The Tamsen Show studio
Tamsen Fadal and Jenny Hutt at The Tamsen Show

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medical disclaimer:

The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical concerns or treatment options. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Tamsen Show.