More baby boomers are calling it quits, divorce rate doubles

American couples over the age of 50 are getting divorced at a much higher rate than the rest of the country. The National Center for Family and Marriage Research reported that the divorce rate for baby boomers has more than doubled during the last 20 years in the U.S.

The increase in baby boomers getting divorced means that one in four divorced individuals in the country is older than 50, according to the study. The researchers believe more baby boomers are getting divorced due to several reasons that includes different attitudes regarding divorce and fewer financial consequences from divorce than in the past.

The study reported that society has become more acceptable of divorce, even in many religious communities. In addition, more women are working full-time and have careers of their own, allowing women to be financially stable and more comfortable getting a divorce.

There are many other reasons more baby boomers are calling it quits but who is more likely to get a divorced as they get older? The study found that race and education plays a role in the likelihood of getting divorced later in life.

The study reported that African-Americans filed for divorce the most often as they got older, followed by Hispanics, whites and Asians. Education also plays a role in the risk of divorce. The study reported that the more educated spouses were, the less likely they were to get divorced.

As the study shows, more baby boomers are getting divorced than ever before and may not be aware of the financial consequences of divorce. That is why it is important for people thinking about filing for divorce to consult a divorce attorney to understand the implications of divorce and what steps to take to make the process easier.

Source: Daily Mail, “More Americans over 50 getting divorced than ever as study finds rate has doubled since 1990,” July 22, 2013