General divorce rates in the United States have been falling for a while. There are many reasons for this, such as couples getting married at a later age. The average age of marriage is now around 32, which can create a bit more stability and reduce the odds of divorce. Young marriages, such as those in their teens or early 20s, have higher divorce rates.
However, divorce among older adults—often called gray divorce—has become more common. For those over 45, the divorce rate continues to rise. For those over 65, it has actually tripled in recent years. This is the demographic with the fastest-rising divorce rate in the U.S.
Why does this happen?
One potential reason for gray divorce is that couples are getting closer to retirement and may view their golden years very differently. Say that one person has always dreamed of a relaxing retirement—taking vacations and trips or simply buying a vacation property and enjoying their time. The other person doesn’t want to retire and plans to keep working. When there are significant differences in how they view the future, it can lead to conflict and divorce.
Another potential factor is that many couples may have stayed together for the kids, or they may have been distracted by the challenges of parenting and overlooked issues in their own marriage. When they become empty nesters, it can sometimes make these underlying issues clear, and that is what ends up leading to the divorce.
Navigating the process
Do you believe you and your partner may get divorced this year? If so, take the time to carefully look into all of the legal options at your disposal.
