There is no specific age for a gray divorce, but the term generally refers to relatively older couples. Many people use the term gray divorce when talking about couples who are ending their marriage in their 50s, 60s or 70s. This is notably different from younger couples who are getting divorced in their 20s or 30s.
Interestingly, studies have found that this is happening more often. As a general rule, from 1990 to 2021, studies found that the divorce rate increased for couples who were at least 45 years old. Over the same period, when looking at couples who were at least 65 years old, there was a stark increase, with the divorce rate tripling.
This trend goes against the overall pattern
One important thing to note about this increase is that the overall divorce trend in the United States has been declining. For younger couples, such as those under 45 years old, that is exactly what is still happening. They are getting divorced less often than they used to.
So why are older couples splitting up more frequently? It may be because they have become empty nesters or because they have different plans for their later years. In some cases, it happens due to shifting perspectives on divorce. These couples may have felt a strong negative stigma surrounding divorce earlier in life, but no longer feel that pressure today, and they finally feel free to pursue a divorce they may have wanted for decades.
No matter why it happens, gray divorce can be complicated because people often have significant assets to divide. Those who are going through the divorce process need to understand all of their legal rights and options.
