If you are under 45 years old, your divorce rate is probably going down. That’s what has been happening to most young age brackets over the last few decades.
However, that doesn’t mean that it’s true for everyone. A study was carried out by the National Center for Family and Marriage Research, which is a part of Bowling Green State University. From 1990 to 2021, the study found that the divorce rate tripled for those who were at least 65 years old. The increase was not as dramatic for those over 45, but their general divorce rate also went up.
Why is this happening?
This phenomenon is often referred to as gray divorce, and it is becoming more common in the United States. There are a variety of reasons why it happens, including couples who are simply staying together for the kids. Once all of the children have graduated from high school and moved out, it could push that couple toward a divorce.
A related issue is simply that younger generations look at marriage and romantic relationships a bit differently. They are far more likely to cohabitate before getting married, and they tend to get married at a much later age. Couples who are 65 years old and older grew up at a time when cohabitation wasn’t nearly as common and when many people got married in their teens or early 20s. As society’s views on marriage and divorce have shifted, it could be that some of these couples have decided to get divorced.
A divorce at this age can be financially complex. If you are going through one, take the time to carefully consider your legal options.
