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Are divorce rates going up for your age group?
Are divorce rates going up for your age group?

Are divorce rates going up for your age group?

On Behalf of | Mar 3, 2023 | Divorce |

There’s often a lot of talk about divorce rates as if they are constantly going up, but the statistics paint a very different picture. Many times, people are still just referencing the rise in the divorce rate in the 1970s, which was sparked by no-fault divorce laws. This did cause a significant increase in divorces at that time, but it was simply because many people who had wanted to get divorced before now had the ability to do so.

Since then, for most age groups, the divorce rate has been consistently falling. It is becoming less and less likely that your marriage would end in divorce. Part of the reason for this is that people are getting married at a later age, which tends to lead to more stable relationships compared to those who get married in their early 20s or even their teens. But there is one age group for which the divorce rate is still rising.

Gray divorce is definitely more common

This phenomenon is known as gray divorce because it affects those who are 50 years old and older. If you’re in this age group, you are actually seeing increased divorce odds every year as your divorce rate goes up.

There are many potential reasons for this. Longer life expectancy makes people reconsider how they want to spend these final years. Changing stigmas about divorce may make older couples feel comfortable getting divorced now when they wouldn’t have previously. Plus, many of these couples have just become empty-nesters, which can cause them to reassess the relationship. 

These are just a few examples of why this trend may be happening. If you and your spouse do end up facing divorce this year, be sure you know exactly what legal steps to take.

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