Baby boomer divorce on the rise

A growing number of older people in Illinois and across the country are choosing to divorce. While many people still think of divorce as a young person’s phenomenon, baby boomers’ divorce statistics continue to rise. Since 1990, the divorce rate has doubled among people 50 and older. At the same time, that rate has tripled for people aged 65 and above. Divorce has become more socially acceptable and generally supported, but there are many factors that can play a role in older people opting to end their marriages.

Families that are comfortable with divorce may be more likely to have divorced members. Studies show that the daughters of divorced parents are 60 percent more likely to end their own marriages while the sons of parents who split are 35 percent more likely to do the same. It also has been revealed that people of any age who have been divorced before are more likely to do so again. Therefore, older couples who have remarried are 2.5 times more likely to choose to separate than those who are still in their first marriages. In addition, people who have been married for a relatively short time are more likely to split than those who have stayed together for decades.

There also is a number of individual issues that can affect a particular couple’s decision-making process. When children leave the home, and parents leave their jobs due to retirement, existing incompatibilities can be more apparent than ever.

Older couples who choose to divorce may be particularly concerned about the financial repercussions, especially in terms of retirement funds. These accounts are often the most significant asset a married couple owns, particularly those close to retirement age. A family law attorney can work with a client to reach a fair settlement on divorce legal issues, including property division and spousal support.