Why Older Couples Choose Divorce
Divorce among older Americans is becoming more and more common. Why would couples that have been married for years—decades, even, decide to divorce? The details differ, but there are usually a handful of basic reasons behind the decision to part ways.
The End of a Marriage
Infidelity, addiction issues, or domestic violence might prompt someone of any age to move on. But older couples sometimes have additional issues that might challenge them, leading to divorce. Some of those issues include:
- Becoming Empty Nesters: Having the children leave home can signal the end of the focus of life for some couples. After everything being connected to the needs and wants of children, couples often discover they don’t have much to talk about when the kids are gone.
- Loss of Intimacy: Either an emotional or a physical one lapse signifies a significant loss of connection, making it difficult to stay married for some. Boredom: After couples spend years together they sometimes settle into a that is so uneventful one partner may become disenchanted. With a whole world of adventure out there, if one spouse is itching to dive into and the other isn’t, the first may decide to explore it on their own.
- Changing Perspective and Goals: As individuals get older, they understandably undergo a number of transformations. If someone develops new interests, passions, hobbies or commitments, it may not align with what their spouse values. One or both partners may ultimately search for a partner who has more in common with them.
- Financial Issues: What pressures in a relationship are more devastating than financial disputes? With the buildup of wealth, older couples may learn they have different ideas about how to spend their retirement money.
- Health Issues: Sometimes one spouse is unwilling or unable to engage in physical activities, while the other wants to be outside engaging in all kinds of physical challenges. Although it may cause some guilt, the healthier spouse may finally choose to get away from the constraints that come with having a sickly partner.
- Too much Time: Some couples who’ve spent years somewhat independent of one another find that when retirement rolls around, they have too much time to kill with a spouse. Who knew they didn’t really enjoy each other that much?
- Changing Norms: Nowadays women have more opportunities in the job market and elsewhere, which means they needn’t feel as dependent on their husbands. Having the freedom to think about life outside of marriage is sometimes all that it takes to take the plunge and file for divorce, especially since the stigma of old is all but gone nowadays!
Your Advocate
The dedicated and experienced Baltimore family lawyers at The Law Office of Hasson D. Barnes are here to help. We will work to achieve your goals, no holds barred. Have a conversation with us in Springfield today to analyze your options.
Source:
verywellmind.com/gray-divorce-8646068
