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Older adults divorce at higher rates

On Behalf of | Mar 15, 2017 | Divorce

When looking at marriage and divorce in America, age makes a big difference. Michigan residents might not know that divorce is becoming less common for young people but more common for older individuals. Since the 1990’s, the divorce rate has roughly doubled for couples who are 50 years old and older. In this age group, 10 out of 1,0000 married people divorced in 2015, which is an increase of five people.

The National Center for Health Statistics and U.S. Census Bureau also found that the divorce rate roughly tripled in 2015 for those 65 years old and older. Additionally, the divorce rate for those who are 40-49 has increased as 21 people out of 1,000 in this age group divorced in 2015 compared to 18 people in 1990.

The divorce rate decreases when looking at younger people. Compared to 1990, the 2015 rate of divorce for those between the ages of 25-39 has fallen from 30 to 24 adults. This age group might divorce less because adults now tend to marry later than they did in 1990.

Those who are 51-69 are considered “baby boomers,” and this group has always had a high divorce rate. They continue to get divorces at a high rate because many of these people may have remarried. Remarriages are often less stable than first marriages, and 48 percent of adults older than 50 who divorced had been married at least once previously.

When going through a divorce in Oakland County, one may need the assistance of an attorney when forming a settlement arrangement. If a couple can reach an agreement, this may save time and money compared to litigation. A couple might have to discuss things like property division, alimony and child custody. Those who can agree on all but a few issues could try mediation in order to resolve their differences.

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