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The main reasons couples divorce after years of marriage

On Behalf of | Jan 4, 2018 | blog, Firm News |

Many couples divorce after decades of marriage. Attorneys typically refer to this as gray divorce, and it occurs when spouses each over the age of 50 decide to divorce. According to the Pew Research Center, approximately 10 out of every 1,000 married persons over the age of 50 divorced. This is a significant increase from 1990 when the rate was five out of every 1,000.

This begs the question, “Why are so many more Baby Boomers divorcing?” On first glance, it would seem that after 20 or 30 years of marriage, a couple would have everything figured out. However, there are several reasons why divorce is on the rise in the Baby Boomer generation now.

The spouses grow apart

For many couples, divorce is not a result of a singular event. Instead, it occurs due to years of witnessing the marriage slowly deteriorate. Additionally, resentment can build up over the years. For example, one spouse may agree to give up a career to take care of the kids and not realize until years later he or she gave up a lot for this relationship. A marriage is like anything else. It can develop wear and tear over the years if there is no maintenance.

Boredom seeps in

Another common explanation for gray divorce is that both people simply become bored. They are around each other all the time to the point where neither person becomes attentive. Boredom can also lead to a loss of attraction.

Financial concerns worsen

When a couple first marries, they may not have too much in terms of assets. However, over the years, the couple will need to pay for a home, vehicles and children’s tuition. This can lead to conversations the couple could not have prior to the marriage. The problem becomes worse if one spouse is very loose with money while the other is more stringent.