New Jersey residents and others who are age 50 or older are getting divorced at an increasing rate while divorce rates for other age groups stabilize. One thought is that individuals in this age group grew up during a time when the concept of marriage was about fulfillment. It is also possible that the rate of gray divorce is increasing because there are more Americans who are 50 or older.
However, talking to older Americans who have gotten divorced has shown that the reasons for ending their marriages are varied. One woman said that she knew her marriage was over after finding a hotel receipt for a fantasy suite. A man said that his wife became more interested in living a lifestyle similar to the ones that her friends enjoyed. That led to increased credit card spending, more spending in general and an end to the marriage.
Some people chose to end their marriages because their spouses were alcoholics or had mental health problems. Women, in particular, said that they were victims of emotional or verbal abuse the lasted for years. Despite hoping that their spouses would change, it never happened. In one case, a wife who was blamed for ruining her husband’s life decided to give him another opportunity at a better one by asking for a divorce.
Individuals who have chosen to end their marriages may wish to engage in divorce mediation as opposed to going to court. In some cases, a handful of issues can be resolved in mediation while the rest are resolved in court. A lawyer may be able to help someone obtain bank statements, tax records or other financial information in the hopes of getting a favorable settlement. If a prenuptial agreement exists, it will likely determine how marital assets are divided.
