Gray divorce is a term used to describe divorcing couples who are over 50 years old. Although the overall divorce rate has declined, statistics show that the rate for “gray divorce” is up. The reason for this increase rate could vary, but according to at least one woman who told her story to The Wall Street Journal, she and her ex had nothing to talk about anymore.
Like so many couples, they stayed in the marriage for the sake of their children. However, when the last of their children were high school age, she began to make changes. The rise in the divorce rate for empty nesters may be epidemic, according to Psychology Today. More couples are ending their marriage after age 50, and in 2009 over 600,000 people over age 50 divorced.
Interestingly enough, what may cause younger couples to divorce is not what motivates the older generation. Infidelity is a common reason many couples divorce, and although the rate of infidelity is the same for older couples, it is not what leads to a divorce. As people live longer, they are not willing to do so miserably, and that seems to be the cause of the trend in people dissolving years of marriage.
Getting a divorce at this late stage in life can seem overwhelming because now you have to operate at half, financially, according to aarp.org. The article describes how after her divorce, one woman took in a boarder to offset expenses, and doing so has allowed her to begin to afford activities that would not have been possible before.
If you are over the age of 50 and considering a divorce, you are not alone. You don’t have to make these life changing decisions on your own. Contact an experienced DuPage County divorce attorney. At Martoccio & Martoccio your best interest is our concern.