Why is Gray Divorce So Common?

 Posted on November 29, 2023 in Divorce

Even couples who have spent years locked in holy matrimony can one day have a change of heart. Gray divorce, which refers to divorce over the age of 50, has been on the rise since 1990 and looks to continue that trend well into 2030. This is in large part due to longer life expectancies. Couples of any age looking to divorce should speak with an experienced attorney.

What is Gray Divorce?

Gray divorce is the trend of older couples in long-term marriages who wish to divorce. The couples are usually in their 50s, 60s, or older, and researchers attribute it to a generational divide where the value of marriage differs.

Reason 1: Divorce Stigma

The stigma surrounding divorce is not as prevalent as it once was. Women have more autonomy now, and those who are not so happy within their current relationship are stepping out on their own. Sometimes, older couples simply fall out of love but stay together for the children or because they feel an obligation to the bonds of marriage.

With the increase in life expectancy, women in unhappy marriages are more likely to ask themselves if the current marriage is worth continuing for another 20 years. More options, like financial freedom and independence, are now open to women that were not necessarily available in the mid-1900s.

Men in unhappy marriages may seek peace in solitude heading into their golden years. With better medical treatments and ways to remain healthy, men may wish to shed their unhappy marriage in favor of going it alone.

Reason 2: Financial Problems

All marriages tend to have money complications in some form, but when money is still an issue so late into a marriage, the pressures for financial stability increase. One partner may have complications budgeting while the other is the “breadwinner” who continues to get frustrated. It can be a recipe for disaster that, after so many years, may have boiled over into borderline contempt. Financial mistakes can often be overlooked in a couple’s early years; bad investments or poor money decisions are not as impactful. However, those mistakes made while approaching retirement do not provide enough time to correct the course.

Reason 3: Cheating

Cheating can occur no matter the age. Sex is important at all ages as well. When one spouse cannot or refuses to engage in the sexual needs of their partner, it can cause friction and breed resentment. That resentment and built-up sexual frustration can either be quashed or acted upon. Couples who cannot satisfy one another’s sexual needs can create a barrier to marital happiness. Sex or no sex, the inability to meet your partner, is all that it takes for one partner to request a divorce.

Contact a Cook County, IL Divorce Attorney

When approaching the later years of life, your marriage may not feel the same as it once did. Instead of living with potential regrets by allowing an unhappy marriage to continue, you can consult a Chicago, IL gray divorce lawyer for answers to your questions. An attorney from the The Law Office of George J. Skuros understands the complications that divorce can bring at retirement age and can lend an empathetic ear to your case. Contact the office today at 312-884-1222 for a free consultation.