These days many American couples who seemed to be happily married for 20 years or longer are suddenly calling it quits. This phenomenon is known as “The Gray Divorce Revolution.” The generations most affected by this are the Baby Boomers and Generation X.
Chances are, if you are in the 50+ age group, you know at least one couple who has divorced after spending many years together. While it may seem surprising, the divorce rate for this age group has more than doubled since 1990 and is expected to triple by the year 2030.
Why is gray divorce so prevalent?
There are several reasons for the increase in divorces among the 50+ age group:
- Unhappiness in the marriage may have finally come to a point where divorcing is the only thing that makes sense. People are living longer. Because of this, they may no longer be willing to stay in an unhappy marriage.
- The children have grown and flown the nest. Staying together for their sake no longer applies.
- Women are feeling more empowered to leave abusive relationships. Divorce is no longer considered a taboo topic for women. Where they once might have stayed for the sake of the family and put up with emotional, verbal or physical abuse, they now see the value in putting themselves first.
- Online dating makes it easier to meet people. There are now some online dating sites that are specifically designed for the 50+ age group.
- Infidelity may have caused trust issues in the marriage.
- Addiction to alcohol or drugs may have destroyed the marriage behind closed doors.
Choosing to divorce when you are in your 50s or older is not easy. It’s very important to make sure that all of the details are worked out between the two of you and that the division of assets is clearly spelled out. Then, you can begin your new life without worry.