The studies say a lot:
- The divorce rate of adults 50 and older doubled between 1990 and 2009
- One in four divorces involves people 50 or older
- Of divorced women middle aged or older, 66 percent say they initiated the split
Right along with age, change happens. A 2004 divorce survey by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) and a 2012 research study on The Gray Divorce Revolution from Bowling Green State University provide a broad view of rapid cultural change occurring in the institution of marriage.
While the tendency of young adults to delay marriage and create smaller families grabs headlines, the climbing divorce rate among older Americans has quietly become another feature of the aging Baby Boomer generation. Still pursuing individuality and quality of life, many Boomers are willing to go it alone, even after 20 or more years of marriage. What can we learn from this?
- More people are opting out of dutiful, but loveless marriages
- Longer life spans fuel the desire to make each year count
- Risk of divorce for second or successive remarriages is 2.5 times higher than first marriages
- About 70 percent of those that initiate divorce remain happy with their decision
Divorce over 50 has concerns all its own. Cautious and fair property division is important to preserving retirement income. Premarital agreements can protect the inheritance of adult children upon remarriage. Going it alone after 50? Talk to us about making upcoming years truly golden. Call Huesman, Jones & Miles, LLC today at (443) 589-0150 to schedule an appointment with one of our highly skilled Hunt Valley divorce lawyers or contact us online.
