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Is There a Trend of Divorce After Decades of Marriage?

On Behalf of | Sep 2, 2019 | Divorce |

While the divorce rate for younger adults has been dropping in recent years, the rate for older adults getting divorced has steadily increased. If you are considering a so-called gray divorce, it is important that you speak to a knowledgeable family law attorney at Lomurro Law who can discuss the specifics of your case and how a divorce later in life might affect you.

New statistics on divorce

New statistics from the National Center for Health Statistics and the U.S. Census Bureau show the divorce rate has more than doubled since the 1990s for adults age 50 and older. Even more startling, divorce rates for adults age 65 and older has tripled since the 1990s.

In comparison, the divorce rate has not moved much for younger adults since 2008. However, this could appear misleading since the divorce rate for adults under 50 is approximately twice the rate for adults 50 and older. Experts attribute this decline to fewer younger people getting married, younger people marrying when they are older than in decades past and being college-educated before getting married.

In contrast, a higher divorce rate for older people is attributed to the aging of the Baby Boomer generation. Baby Boomers had high levels of divorce during their period of younger adulthood. There are more gray divorces for adults who have been married multiple times or for fewer years. Of the divorces in 2015, 48 % of the adults who were 50 or older were in their second or subsequent marriage. Most older adults were in their second or subsequent marriage at this age point. However, about one-third of older adults who divorced in 2015 had been in their prior marriage for at least 30 years.

Concerns with gray divorce

Gray divorce has unique aspects that are different than divorce during other stages of life. For example, these divorces tend to be less financially secured, especially for women. When retirement is approaching and a divorce occurs, there may be inadequate time to re-earn the funds that are now split between the couple. Additionally, living alone later in life can have health and financial effects on adults. Older adults may also have more focus on how their governmental benefits and healthcare insurance will be affected with a divorce at this stage in their lives.

While these divorces may have less issues involving custody, they may involve arrangements regarding older children, paying for college expenses or maintaining relationships with older children or grandchildren.

For help with the next steps, contact an experienced Freehold divorce lawyer

If you are considering a “gray” divorce, it is important you have qualified legal assistance and accurate advice. The experienced family law team at Lomurro Law can discuss your rights and objectives during a confidential case consultation. Speak with us at 732-482-9285 or fill out our online contact form. We serve all of Monmouth County, including Asbury Park, Long Branch, Freehold Township and Wall Township.