Since 1990, the divorce rate for those who are 50 or older has increased while it has stayed steady or declined for other age groups. Of those in the former segment who have gotten divorced in the past 25 years, more than half had been married for over 20 years. There are many variables that could explain why this is happening in Illinois and throughout the country.
In some cases, couples realize that they have grown apart and believe that they could do better separately from each other. In the past, older couples may have stayed in a loveless marriage assuming that they were supposed to become dull or boring. However, as the stigma of divorce is no longer as strong as it used to be, older individuals are choosing to end marriages that they aren’t happy with. The internet may also make it easier for them to find someone to start a new relationship with.
Those who decide to get divorced will have a variety of issues to consider before doing so. For instance, it will be necessary to determine what happens to the family home as well as what happens to retirement accounts and other marital assets. Those who have been married for many years may have to contend with alimony as well.
The end of a marriage may be an emotional time for many people. To avoid making decisions based on those emotions, it may be a good idea to have legal representation throughout the process. An experienced family law attorney can often take the lead in negotiating a settlement, helping to ensure that the client does not rush to agree to points just for the sake of getting the process over with.
