A Law Firm Where
You Are Our Top Priority

The shocking statistics on gray divorces

On Behalf of | May 23, 2023 | Family Law

Modern advances have led to substantial changes in the demographics of this country. A positive benefit has been a longer lifespan for many people and greater social and economic freedom.

Those shifts have given rise to another trend: gray divorce. The following data highlights surprising statistics about marriage mates who choose to separate later in life.

Gray divorces at a higher rate

Researchers recently reviewed 50 years of data on marital separations, with a focus on gray divorce. The studies found that the divorce rate for couples over 50 is steadily rising. One reason seems to be that people really do stay together for their kids and postpone divorce until the young ones grow.

Also, younger people are marrying at a lower rate. These couples often prefer to cohabitate for longer periods and are cautious about marriage. As a result, more people marry later in life, leading to more gray divorces.

However, a previous divorce does not seem to sour older people on the idea of marriage. In particular, baby boomers are the most likely to remarry. Some researchers attribute this trend to the values that the generation learned when younger.

Greater financial challenges from gray divorce for women

Unfortunately, a woman’s average income often drops after divorce and can remain low for years. These economic challenges tend to hurt women in gray divorces more than others. The reason may be that older women sacrificed earning power to care for a home. If a spousal support ruling is not favorable to the female partner, she may struggle.

As people live longer, they want to do whatever is possible to live a happy and fulfilling life, and that can include divorce. An individual facing this change in life often benefits by handling the process carefully to avoid common pitfalls.

FindLaw Network