An interesting thing has been happening to the divorce rate for older couples. For many Americans, it has been dropping. But if you look at the statistics for divorce involving those over 65, going back to 1990, you’ll see that the divorce rate has tripled.
This is a stunning increase, so what’s driving it? Why are older couples getting divorced more often? Below are a few potential reasons, although every case is unique.
Longer life expectancy
To begin with, people are just living longer than they have in previous generations. Statistically, this just means there are more couples who fit into this age bracket, and some of them are naturally going to get divorced.
This life expectancy can also lead to some differences of opinion. Say that one spouse wants to retire early and travel the world, enjoying their golden years. The other spouse just wants to keep running their small business and isn’t interested in anything else. They may end up getting divorced just because they see the future so differently.
Changing stigma
At the same time, it’s important to note that the way people think about divorce is different today than it was in past generations. The stigma has shifted and divorce is now seen as something that is fairly common and acceptable, whereas it used to be much more taboo. So some older couples may have been thinking about ending their marriage for years or even decades, but it is only now that they feel comfortable going forward with the divorce.
Many complexities can arise when divorcing at this age, especially when splitting up assets or retirement accounts. Couples must know exactly what legal steps to take.
