Divorce for couples over the age of 50 is becoming increasingly common and they occur for a variety of reasons.
However, those considering later-in-life divorce face unique issues, many of which would not have arisen when they were younger. What are some of the benefits and pitfalls?
Cause and effect
Older couples who decide to divorce cite many reasons. For example, one spouse may have been so involved in business ventures that the addiction to power and money became more important than the marriage. Some people have been unhappy in their marriage for a long time but tried to make it work or stayed in the union because of the children. Studies also show that those who divorced after a previous marriage were more likely to divorce the second or third time around.
Stress management
One notable benefit for older divorcing couples is that ending a long, unhappy relationship can bring peace and an end to the strain of trying to make a marriage work. On the other hand, a newly divorced parent may become more dependent on an adult child, possibly causing unlooked-for stress to enter that marriage.
Brighter picture
If you are facing a “gray divorce,” know that there are some limitations to the next phase of life. You simply do not have the time to go back to school to learn and begin a new career. It is also unwise to make certain risky investments since you are no longer young enough to recover financially if they should fail. On the brighter side, possibilities are everywhere. You can pursue new ideas and projects as time and your whims permit. You might even find love again. In short, there are certain pitfalls in later-in-life divorce, but there are also endless benefits.
