We started hearing about grey divorces from the lives of politicians and celebrities. Former Vice-President Al Gore and his wife Tipper Gore were married for over 40 years. He was over the age of 62 when they announced their separation in 2010. When they divorced in 2011, Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife Maria Shriver had four children, were married over 30 years and he was 64 years old. Just this week, Bill and Melinda Gates announced that they were splitting up after 27 years. High-profile grey divorces pointed to a new trend. Exactly what is a Grey Divorce? Why are Grey Divorces trending?
The Age of Grey Divorces
In the past grey divorce described the break-up of a 40 plus year marriage of a couple in their 60’s. Today, the term defines the man or woman who is over the age of 50 years old and is single. Usually, the marriage is at least 20 years-old and the children are young adults or older. Instead of children facing parental divorce, it is married children with their own families, experiencing the divorce from the “grandparent” age. Instead of the reliance of grandmother or grandfather being a reliable go-to, instead there is a new family adjustment and relationships to maneuver.
Senior Divorce Statistics
In 2010 one in four people over the age of 50 divorced. In 2017, the rate of grey divorces increased. By 2017, women over 50 years old initiated two out of three divorces. The CDC found that over 750,000 divorces occurred 9n 2019, which is roughly 2.7% of the U.S. population. According to a study from Bowling Green University, in the 1990s, grey divorces occurred at a rate of 4.7 per 1,000. By 2017, 10.7 divorces out of 1,000 is a grey divorce. The splitting up of married grandparents is an upward trend.
The Senior Silver Splitter
Divorce among Generation X and Millenials has decreased. Younger generations are either putting off marriage or marrying later in life. The need to start a family is secondary to personal fulfillment. So why is the Senior Silver Splitter trending today? A variety of reasons exist. Infidelity seems to no longer be the automatic divorce button. There seems to be other factors supporting the upward trend.
Often, men and women stayed together for the sale of their children, or even financial security. In the past divorced women lived in poverty while divorced men increased their standard of living. Women balanced home and work careers, which penalized income earnings. Over the last several decades women have started gaining more independence, more education, and more autonomy. Women have less fear of becoming impoverished.
Sometimes people lived in unbearable conditions to avoid the stigma of divorce. Often religious views kept couples together, especially to raise the children. How often have you heard, “I’ll divorce my husband as soon as the youngest turns 18.” Today, that is one reason for the increase of senior divorces. Women or men hang in there to the finish of raising the children. Then the “empty nest syndrome” hits. Men and women realize they have nothing in common and no reason to stay together. The Silver Splitter starts.
Age brings new health challenges and maybe a partner wants a younger model. Perhaps, people just grow apart. Today there is an increase of Seniors who want to experience a better chapter in life. Rather than hanging on for different reasons, older couples are splitting apart.
Grey Divorce Retirements
With the Grey Divorce comes the Platinum Retirement issues. Although Seniors want to start a new chapter in life, challenges still exist. The empty nest might also mean an occupation change, a retirement, or even bring mental health issues. Grey divorce is a major change in life, and one that happens in later years when other money issues or health issues might occur. It’s important to understand all the issues that come with a grey divorce.
Your Grey Divorce Attorney
It’s essential to work with a family law attorney who understands your new change in life during a grey divorce. If you’re in the age to start over your new chapter in life, call me at. You may also book a consultation with me now.
