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Grey divorce rates have doubled in recent years

On Behalf of | Dec 12, 2019 | Divorce & Legal Separation, Gray Divorce |

The impact of going through a divorce can be difficult for anyone to deal with. It can be even more challenging if you are getting divorced later in life. While older adults might have more nuanced relationships, they also tend to end their marriages for the same reasons as younger couples.

Five reasons why older couples divorce

The number of couples getting a divorce has steadily decreased within the last 25 years. This is a surprising statistic given that the prevalence of grey divorce has doubled during this time. Couples over the age of 50 may split up for any of the following reasons:

  • Wealth management: Having open communication about finances during a marriage is beneficial. Managing your money should be a collaborative effort. Spending more than you can afford to could lead to a breakdown of the relationship.
  • Lack of connection: When people have children, they tend to focus all their time and effort on raising them. This can put a strain on the marriage. When all the children have moved out, both parties might feel like the connection is gone.
  • Adultery: Just like any other relationship, being unfaithful can bring an end to a marriage.
  • Drug dependency: The foundation of a marriage can quickly crumble when one party relies on drugs too heavily. The addicted spouse could also start putting their addiction before the relationship.
  • Longer lives: With better access to healthcare, people have begun living longer than their parents did on average. If older couples have lost that spark, they are more likely to get divorced if they are relatively healthy still.

Attempting to settle a divorce on your own is challenging. Working with an experienced family law attorney can help you both meet somewhere in the middle. Your attorney might even be able to help mediate discussions between you and your spouse.

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