While the divorce rate in the U.S. has declined over the past 20 years, divorces involving baby boomer couples has more than doubled in the last two decades, according to a report by the National Center for Family & Marriage Research.
Many couples are getting divorced after being married for more than 20 years. With such an increase in the divorce rate among the same age group, researchers have tried to find out the reasons behind the rise in divorces among the baby boomer generation.
What researchers have found was not too surprising. Baby boomers cited a variety of reasons for filing for divorce after being married for so many years. One of the main reasons stated by older couples getting divorced was that they no longer had anything in common or could not get along. Infidelity was also highly cited in many divorces among baby boomers. After being together for so long, couples found it difficult to get past the emotional toll.
Researchers also found that older couples were often better off financially than younger couples seeking divorce. Many middle-aged couples can afford to live separately as well as afford the expense of getting a divorce in today’s economy. One thing baby boomers did cite more was disputes over splitting up assets and agreeing to the property settlement.
One thing baby boomers getting divorced don’t usually have to worry about is fighting over the kids. Most of the time, children of baby boomers who are getting divorced are in their teens or are already adults so disputes over child custody or visitation do not occur as often.
While researchers did not seem to find many surprises among the reasons for baby boomer divorces and what issues they may face, it does highlight what considerations and factors older couples should think about before they file for divorce.
Source: Huffington Post, “Is Grey Divorce A New Baby Boomer Rite of Passage?” Lisa Helfend Meyer, Dec. 16, 2012