Ideas surrounding the institution of marriage have changed dramatically within the last 20 years. Today, some couples are choosing to forego marriage altogether, while others are delaying marriage until later on in life. Another change with regard to marriage and ideas related thereto, is the rise in divorce rates among those couples over the age of 50.
While divorce rates among Americans have hoovered around 45 percent for years, the divorce rate for couples over the age of 50 remained relatively low. In recent years, however, divorce attorneys report a dramatic increase in the number of so-called gray divorces.
Individuals choose to divorce for a variety of reasons. Infidelity, substance abuse problems, financial hardships and simply growing apart are all major sources of conflict that often prompt a couple to divorce. While these types of issues are likely problems for many married baby boomers, social scientists believe there are likely other factors contributing to the spike in divorce rates among this demographic.
Individuals born from 1946 to 1964 grew up during a time in which individualism and personal growth and freedom were emphasized. Many baby boomers likely remained married for years for financial reasons and to raise children. When finances and minor-aged children are no longer an issue or concern, questions related to personal growth and feeling fullfilled tend to bubble up.
Baby boomers going through divorce often have more assets which can make the divorce process complex and contentious. Not only must these couples come to an agreement regarding the division property and personal belongings, but matters related to the division of retirement assets must also be decided. For these reasons, baby boomers would be wise to enlist the assistence of a divorce attonrey who has experience handling complex divorces.