• 24
  • June
    2011

When people think of couples who get divorced, the ones who come to mind are the younger ones - the kids who got married too early, the young people who were too hasty in their rush to the altar, those who wed before they got a chance to fully develop themselves as people. But Colorado Baby Boomers who are contemplating divorce definitely should not feel like they are the only ones. Recent statistics suggest the divorce rate among people their age is actually on the upswing.

According to the National Center for Family & Marriage Research at Bowling Green State University, the divorce rate among people over 50 has doubled, even as the nation's overall divorce rate has dropped.

Experts point to several factors for the increasing divorce rate among older couples:

•· Baby Boomers have the economic means to get divorced. Divorce does not have to be expensive, but younger couples who are just starting out may not be able to find the extra money to separate in a mutually satisfactory way, so they stay together out of inertia. Also, by the time couples reach middle age, there are usually enough assets so that each spouse can feel secure after the marital resources have been divided.

•· By the time parents reach their 50s, the children are usually grown and out of the house. This removes a major reason many people opt to stay together.

•· Attitudes towards marriage have changed. When many Baby Boomers were married, marriage was an assumption. Now, people feel more free to be defined by things other than their marital status.

Even though the increasing divorce rate among Baby Boomers indicates people are going through the separation process, many remain afraid of divorce. Generally speaking, women seem to fear being left penniless and men are afraid of losing everything they've worked for, experts say. Colorado couples who are looking at divorce should know their fears will not necessarily become reality. It is perfectly possible to divorce in a way that leaves both parties satisfied. Working with someone who has experience in divorce cases can help to ensure your interests are protected and that you will be content with the outcome.

Source: Fox Business, "Why So Many Baby Boomers are Getting Divorced," Casey Dowd, 23 June 2011.