Collaborative Divorce Texas

  • Donate
  • For Professionals
    • Membership Advantages
    • Events/Training
    • Become a Member
    • For Students
    • Volunteer at CDT
    • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Login
  • Home
  • Find a Collaborative Professional
  • What is a Collaborative Divorce?
    • What is Collaborative Divorce?
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • About CDTexas
    • Master and Credentialed Collaborative Divorce Professionals
    • The Gay G. Cox Award for Excellence in Collaborative Law
  • Blog
  • For Collaborative Professionals
    • Membership Benefits
    • Events/Training
    • Become a Member
    • For Students
    • Advertise With Us
    • Volunteer at CDT
    • Login
  • Donate
  • Contact Us
  • What is Collaborative Divorce?
    • What is Collaborative Divorce?
    • Why Use a CDTexas Member?
    • About Us
    • Master and Credentialed Collaborative Divorce Professionals
    • The Gay G. Cox Award for Excellence in Collaborative Law
  • Testimonials
  • FAQs
  • Blog
  • Find A Professional
    • How Do I Choose a Collaborative Professional?
    • Attorneys
    • Financial Professionals
    • Mental Health Professionals
    • See All
You are here: Home / Blog / Why Baby-Boomer Divorces are Soaring

Why Baby-Boomer Divorces are Soaring

March 6, 2018 By Harry Munsinger, J.D., Ph.D. Leave a Comment

baby boomer divorceThe U.S. divorce rate peaked in the late 1970s and began falling, except among persons born between 1946 and 1971.  Baby boomer divorce rates doubled after 1990, and among couples over 65, the divorce rate almost tripled.  What’s causing this spike in gray divorces?  The causes of gray divorce include living longer, growing apart, higher expectations, having more money, women getting educated, infidelity, and more post-divorce options for divorced spouses.  However, there is a down side to divorce for women in poor health with few assets.

The Longevity Bonus.

Spending the last 30 years of your life with someone you hate sounds dreadful.  Baby boomers expect to live longer than earlier generations and they want to enjoy their golden years.  Because there is little stigma to getting divorced today, more and more baby boomers are untying the know in search of fulfillment.

Growing Apart.

Most grey divorces are not marked by serious discord.  Instead, older divorcing couples report they simply drifted apart.  Researchers are not certain why older Americans are increasingly turning to divorce or why over 80 percent of divorces are initiated by educated women, but they have some ideas.

Higher Expectations.

One theory is that women’s expectations for a “good” marriage have increased.  Women now want their spouse to be their best friend and their marriage relationship to be a major source of happiness.  When their spouse cannot meet these heightened expectations, they divorce him.

More Assets.

Because baby boomers have accumulated significant assets, it’s easier for them to divorce–there is enough money for both spouses to manage comfortably afterward.  Marriages with few assets are difficult to terminate because there is no money left after the split.

More Educated Women.

Another likely cause of grey divorce is that many older women are educated, financially independent, and crave autonomy.  Older educated women realize they can get a divorce because their children are grown, they don’t have much in common with their spouse, they can expect to live at least another 20 years, and they can afford to live alone because they are employed and have accumulated retirement funds.

Infidelity and Divorce.

Another cause of grey divorce is adultery.  Baby boomers came of age during the sexual revolution and enjoyed many more sexual partners than earlier generations.  These early sexual experiences may have given baby boomers a taste for sexual variety.  The sense of betrayal when someone finds their spouse has been cheating on them ends many marriages.

More Options Post-Divorce.

Older divorced women have more options today with online dating sites specifically designed for them and the stigma of cohabitation largely a thing of the past.  Older women no longer need to stay married for fear of social rejection and poverty.  To a lesser degree the same is true of rejected husbands; a grey divorce isn’t the end of the world for older men.  They have productive years ahead, there are plenty of opportunities to meet new people and with the right attitude they can enjoy the same freedom and sense of fulfillment as their former wives.

The Down Side of Divorce.

For men and women in good health and sufficient financial resources, a grey divorce means freedom, independence and personal fulfillment.  However, for older individuals in poor health with limited resources, divorce can drag them into poverty.  The average older divorced woman has only 20% of the net assets owned by a married couple of the same age.  Women who were widowed after age 50 possess more than double the wealth of the average grey divorcee because they have not had to share assets with a divorcing husband.

Collaborative Divorce

If you are a baby boomer and considering a divorce, the collaborative process offers many benefits.

First, the collaborative process is privacy–you can keep your dirty linen out of sight.  Moreover, the average cost of a collaborative divorce is around half the average cost of an adversarial divorce.  Participants in the collaborative process voluntarily produce all relevant financial and family information so they avoid lengthy and expensive discovery fights characteristic of adversarial divorces.   And, because collaborative divorces are settled through interest-based negotiation, clients control the outcome.  Collaborative meetings are scheduled at the convenience of the parties, which is a real advantage for busy professionals.

The collaborative process helps divorcing couples learn to communicate, respect each other and work together to reach a settlement.  A major advantage of collaborative divorce is that children are never put in the middle of the divorce.  Also, the collaborative process allows clients and their attorneys to reach creative settlements not available in court.  Finally, parents who  participate in a collaborative divorce learn to co-parent effectively after the divorce, which is healthy for their children.  For all these reasons, you should seriously consider a collaborative divorce if you are untying the knot.  You and your children will be much better off and it won’t cost as much as a litigated divorce.

About Harry Munsinger, J.D., Ph.D.

Harry Munsinger practices collaborative and estate law in San Antonio. He has over twenty years experience resolving disputes involving divorce, probate, wills, and trusts. Harry was an adjunct law professor at the University of Texas and St. Mary’s University. He has published several textbooks and over forty psychological and legal articles. Harry has been a forensic psychology expert, a licensed psychologist and a litigator.

Filed Under: •••, Blog, Harry Munsinger, Our-Featured-Authors Tagged With: Grey Divorce, mature divorce

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Find a Professional

Getting started with the Collaborative Process?

First your need to connect with a trained Collaborative Professional.

[Find Out More....]

Articles by Category

Featured Video

  • Child of Divorce
  • Collaborative Divorce Testimonial

Why Collaborative?

  • Jennifer Leister
  • Steve Walker
  • Carla Calabrese
  • Dawn Budner
  • Becky Davenport
  • Jody Johnson
  • Honey Schef
  • James Urmin
  • Kurt Chacon
  • Natalie Gregg
  • Robert Matlock
  • Deborah Lyons
  • Carlos Salinas
  • Camille Scroggins
  • Linda Solomon
  • Richard Soat
  • Lisa Rothfus
  • Jeffrey Shore
  • Barbara Cole
  • David Brunson
  • Jennifer Tull
  • Syd Sh
  • Susan Z. Wright
  • Christi Trusler
  • Camille Milnser
  • Linda Threats
  • Sarah Keathley
  • MaryAnn Kildebeck
  • David Bouschor
  • LIsa Marquis
  • Harry Munsinger
  • Vicki James
  • Robin Watts
  • Katie Berry
  • Jack Emmott
  • Jennifer Broussard
  • Patricia Havard
  • Paula Locke Smyth
  • Laura Schlenker
  • Norma Trusch
  • Brett Christiansen
  • Tim Whitten
  • Mickey Gayler
  • Melinsa Eitzen
  • Julian Schwartz
  • MaryAnn Knolle
  • Chad Olsen
  • Chris Farish
  • Charles Quaid
  • Anne Shuttee
  • Barbara Runge
  • Rhonda Cleaves -
  • Jamie Patterson
  • Catherine Baron
  • Kristen Algert
  • Sandra Roland
  • Rhonda Cleaves 2
  • Gratia Schoemakers

Have you read?

Helping Children Return Back to School After Divorce

When children return back to school after divorce, a typically challenging time can be even more difficult. Learn how to ease the transition. School is starting again, and a number of children … [Read More...]

More Articles from this Category

The Collaborative Law Institute of Texas

d/b/a
Collaborative Divorce Texas

Proud Members of IACP

12400 Coit Road
Suite 1270
Dallas, TX 75251
(972) 386-0158

Please note: Our office will be closed on

Holiday closures:
Limited: Nov. 23rd & 24th
Closed: Nov. 25th , 26th and 27th

December 24, 2020 - January 1, 2021


Website Terms of Usage

Contact Our Webmaster

 

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Vimeo
  • YouTube

Search Our Website

Find A Professional

  • Find a Collaborative Professional
  • Attorneys
  • Financial Professionals
  • Mental Health Professionals
  • See All
EnglishFrançaisDeutschItalianoPortuguêsEspañol

Copyright © 2021 · Collaborative Divorce Texas · All Rights Reserved

· · ·

Web Design and Maintenance by The Crouch Group