Below you will find discover some of the most common reasons for gray divorce as well as some of the peaceful divorce options available to you.

1. Financial Matters

Couples who constantly fight about money or struggle with debt often end up divorcing. Divorce can also be caused by a partner’s mismanagement of funds or overspending habits. In some cases, some people are waiting to get divorced until they feel financially independent enough to do so.

2. Grew Apart

If you ask a couple why they got divorced, you will often hear answers like “we grew apart” or “it’s not working out.” Couples sometimes realize they lost the spark they used to have when they first got married and they aren’t willing or able to put in the effort to rekindle that spark.

3. Kids are Gone

Some couples are unhappy with their marriage but stay together for their kids. After the kids are grown up and leave the home, they realize their children were the only thing keeping them together.

4. Intimacy is Gone

As people age, their desire for intimacy often wanes. If one spouse is content with a celibate marriage and the other is not, this incompatibility may lead to divorce. Whether one partner is making excuses, not trying, or refusing to compromise, not having an intimate relationship with your partner can lead to divorce.

5. Better Health

Life spans have increased over the years, and people over age 50 know they have time to pursue a happy marriage. Older people aren’t terrified about the idea of divorce anymore as the stigma around it is diminishing.

6. Too Predictable

Although some people of are comforted by their day-in/day-out routine, other people may simply get bored if their relationship has become too predictable. Some couples do the exact same things year after year and without doing anything spontaneous. Although this may not be a problem if both spouses prefer the tried-and-true, boredom may become a problem in relationships that lack spontaneous activity.

7. Infidelity

It’s not uncommon for a marital relationship to be tested if a spouse has been unfaithful. Even internet relationships, which can rise to the level of “emotional affairs,” have been known to cause marital issues.

Source:

1. “Intro to Gray Divorce.” McKinley Irvin, https://www.mckinleyirvin.com/resources/gray-divorce/.
2. Godfrey, Neale. “The Rise of Gray Divorce: Why and Why Not?” www.kiplinger.com, Kiplingers Personal Finance, 23 Jan. 2019, https://www.kiplinger.com/article/retirement/T065-C032-S014-the-rise-of-gray-divorce-why-and-why-not.html.
3. “Divorce Rates up for Americans 50 and Older, Led by Baby Boomers.” Pew Research Center, https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/03/09/led-by-baby-boomers-divorce-rates-climb-for-americas-50-population/.

See Also:

• Divorcing Over 50 & Grey Divorce
• How to Ask for a Divorce Peacefully
• Collaborative Process Allows You to Divorce as Friends

Collaborative Divorce is a Peaceful Divorce Option

Divorce litigation can be scary and emotionally draining for you, your spouse, and your children. But it doesn’t have to be that way with collaborative divorce. The collaborative process can result in a less expensive, more efficient, and less harmful outcome for everyone involved. One of the legal, financial, and communication professionals at Best Legal Choices can help you navigate this difficult time in your life.