A variety of unique factors influence the likelihood of divorce. People’s professions can impact their chances of divorcing. Those who are away from home for long shifts or weeks at a time can damage their marriages. The risk of divorce depends in no small part on the professions of the spouses.
Divorce rates also differ from one state to the next. Cultural beliefs and religion can also impact the likelihood of divorce. It can be difficult to predict who might end up divorcing. Couples who seem perfect from the outside may have issues that could eventually drive them apart.
Researchers have long attempted to identify trends in divorce rates. Research in recent years has uncovered a relatively surprising trend. One group that many people do not associate with divorce overall divorce rates increased substantially. In many locations, older adults may actually face a higher overall risk of divorce than younger couples.
Gray divorce rates have increased significantly
Social expectations about divorce are not always accurate. People frequently believe that divorce occurs when people marry too young or on an impulse. Most people assume that divorcees occur early in marital relationships when couples realize that they are not compatible.
However, those realizations do not necessarily occur at the beginning of a marital relationship. People can spend years together before realizing that they have become incompatible. People’s values and priorities naturally evolve over time, and the changes that they experience can potentially damage their marriages.
Divorce rates among those over the age of 50 have doubled since 1990. For those over the age of 65, divorce rates have tripled. Individuals approaching or past the age of retirement may be at higher risk of divorce than younger couples.
The risk of divorce isn’t the only thing that’s different. The complexity of the divorce that they face can also be much higher. Larger marital estates and greater financial interdependence can lead to more contentious and challenging divorce proceedings.
People contemplating a gray divorce may need to learn more about the process. They often need to consult with a lawyer to learn about their options and choose the best possible path forward, and that’s okay. Understanding state law and the likely challenges ahead can help people navigate divorce proceedings gracefully.
