There has been a lot of news about the rising divorce rate among older couples. In fact, for baby boomers the divorce rate has increased dramatically in the past couple of decades. It is difficult to say exactly why this is happening, but something everyone can agree on is that marriage is not easy. Minnesota boomers considering divorce might just be joining a growing national trend.
According to a recent study, the rate of divorce among boomers is continuing to climb even as the rate of divorce among the general population has begun to stabilize. The study conducted by Bowling Green State University has shown that the divorce rate for U.S. couples over the age of 50 has nearly doubled over the last 20 years. The report states that in 1990, less than 10 percent of couples over 50 divorced. Today, that number is 25 percent.
The study also looked at the differences among various demographics. According to the study, the rates of divorce among couples over 50 were highest among African-American couples and lowest among white couples, with Hispanic couples falling somewhere in between. Older adults that choose to divorce were, on average, also less educated than older couples that remained married.
While the underlying cause of any individual divorce is difficult to account for, the authors of the study did identify a number of potential factors contributing to the rise in divorce rates among older couples, including longer overall life spans and changing ideas about marriage.
Regardless of the reasons, boomers often face unique difficulties when seeking a divorce. Older couples may have complex assets and a significant amount of accumulated marital property, including real estate, business assets and retirement plans. An experienced attorney can help older couples facing divorce wade through the intricacies of property division to ensure each spouse is able to move forward into post-divorce life.
Source: CNN, "Baby boomer divorce rate doubles," Greg Clary and Athena Jones, June 24, 2012
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