The majority of people who get married don’t want to think about the possibility of a divorce. After all, your wedding day should be one of the happiest in your life. You and your spouse have been together for some time and getting married shows that you both want to remain committed to each other.
The truth is that many couples don’t stay together, so divorce is relatively common. Over time, divorces have lost the stigma that used to be associated with them, and more people have opted to divorce instead of staying in unhappy relationships.
That reduction in the stigma of divorce is part of what has led to an uptick in gray divorces. Around two out of three cases involve a wife asking for a gray divorce, which is something interesting to consider. Why is that so? Some believe it’s because women are more financially independent than in the past. Since they can support themselves, they don’t remain in unhappy marriages.
Another reason for an uptick in gray divorce is that people live much longer than in the past. If you’re unhappy at 50, it’s hard to imagine another 30 or 40 years of unhappiness.
Gray divorces are unique, and they have special issues that must be addressed. You may have finances that are significantly intertwined, retirement accounts to divide and many other things to consider. If you plan to get divorced later in life, make sure you speak with a professional who can help you plan for this separation. You need to do what you can to preserve your assets and continue to plan for your future.