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More older Americans are divorcing

On Behalf of | Feb 17, 2020 | Divorce |

While overall divorce rates in Georgia and across the nation have declined over the past 20 years, statistics show that divorce among older Americans has skyrocketed. In fact, the number of couples splitting up after the age of 50 doubled between 1990 and 2010.

Traditionally, there have been two common times people tend to divorce. The first one frequently occurs near the seven-year mark of marriage, and the second one often occurs around the 20-year mark. However, relationship experts are trying to better understand the growing phenomenon of divorce after 50, which has been coined “gray divorce”. One factor could be emotional disconnection. Americans are living longer, and some older people might look at the remaining years of their life and decide they don’t want to spend it with their current spouse. Another factor might be that the social stigma around divorce is decreasing, allowing older people to consider what was once unthinkable. Instead of continuing to suffer through affairs, abuse or other serious relationship issues, many people are now choosing to move on and look for happiness elsewhere.

Still, relationship experts point out that many marriages are worth saving. When couples are thinking of splitting up over reasons such as communication issues or lack of connection, it might be helpful to try marriage counseling, communication courses or other relationship-building programs. Not every rocky patch has to lead to divorce court.

Georgia residents considering ending their marriage might benefit from seeking the advice of a family law attorney as soon as possible. The attorney may be able to provide essential advice throughout the process and push for favorable agreements on the applicable divorce legal matters. If needed, legal counsel could also petition the court for a post-divorce decree modification in the future.

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