Have you heard that gray divorce rates have been rising? It’s true. When you go back to the 1990s, you can see a clear rise in the divorce rate for the over-50 age group.
If you ask people why this happens, they give you a variety of potential reasons. One common theory is that the empty nest — when the kids are all out of the house — makes people less content, and they want something new. Another is that people live longer, so they want to get divorced from such long marriages. Some people will also point to the way that sickness can lead to divorce and question if older individuals get sick more often.
All these potential reasons hold weight and may factor in, but there is one simple reason this rate keeps growing: For a lot of those who are 50 and older, they’re already in a second marriage. They got married young, split up and married again. As they grow older, they’re more likely to end this second marriage, as well. In fact, some studies say that the divorce rate for second marriage sits a full 2.5 times as high as the divorce rate for first marriages.
Cultural opinions on divorce have changed, making young divorces common, as well. The eventual result of this trend of young divorces is that a lot of older people are trying marriage for the second time and have high odds of simply splitting up again.
Regardless of your age or how all of these divorce cases are connected, if you decide to end your marriage, make sure you know what steps to take.
Do You Need To Speak To A Virginia Divorce Attorney?
If you are considering divorce you need to speak with an experienced Virginia divorce attorney as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Fairfax, Virginia law office at 703.277.2811 to schedule your free consultation. We help clients throughout Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia and look forward to helping you.