While most couples go into marriage committed to spending a lifetime together, circumstances can change, and so can people. In fact, one of the fastest-growing divorce demographics in recent decades has been couples over the age of 50. The uptick is a phenomenon known as gray divorce.
As for what’s driving the rise in these specific kinds of separations, the answer lies in factors such as the following:
Reduced Stigma
The baby boomer generation reached marriageable age beginning in the 1960s and extending through the 1980s. It was a time in which attitudes toward human sexuality, marriage, and divorce were all starting to change, though there was still a stigma attached to divorce nonetheless.
Today, there’s a much better understanding of the mental and emotional strain associated with staying in an unhappy marriage. That, paired with an increased emphasis on personal satisfaction in life, has contributed to a greatly reduced stigma surrounding divorce.
That shift has also led to the adoption of no-fault divorce laws; currently, all 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, allow for no-fault divorces. These are marriage dissolutions that do not require any sort of reasoning or need to prove culpability.
Marital Dissatisfaction or Growing Apart
Even for the most loving couples, marriage still requires work. After the flush of new love fades, you must figure out how to live with another person and remain committed to your shared lifelong journey.
Add to that the fact that people and circumstances change over time, and it becomes easier to see how the shape of a relationship can be affected. Between work, raising a family, loss, and the slew of other challenges couples face, it’s not unusual for them to realize, at some point, that their interests, goals, and priorities have simply diverged.
Increased Life Expectancy
As relatively recently as a century ago, most people weren’t expected to live past the age of 50, whereas today, the average adult lifespan exceeds 75. For couples that married young and started families early in life, as was common among baby boomers, that can mean spending significantly more time with a spouse after the kids have left the nest and after the age of retirement.
In some cases, focusing on children and careers allows couples to avoid dealing with marital issues, but when those distractions are no longer around, couples may be forced to contend with the fact that they are no longer compatible with one another.
Financial Independence
Along with the right to vote, attend college, join the workforce, build credit, and own property, women have gained a wealth of independence in the last hundred years. The result is that women of all ages now have a choice about whether to marry, divorce, or remain single.
Why Do You Need Help When Pursuing a Gray Divorce?
With a lifetime of financial entanglements to sift through, including real estate, savings, investments, retirement accounts, and more, gray divorce may prove incredibly complex. In addition, emotions can run high when a long-term relationship ends.
You need a qualified family law firm to help you through the process and protect your best interests. The team at Gucciardo Family Law is here to provide the legal guidance and support you need. Contact us today to learn more.
