Baby Boomers are currently aged between about 55 and 75, and it’s not surprising that this demographic accounts for an increasing percentage of UK divorces.
There are several reasons why over-55s might choose to separate:
High-profile splits, such as the recently announced divorce of Bill and Melinda Gates, add to the awareness that an unsatisfying marriage does not have to last the rest of your life.
In fact, supported by methods like mediation, more couples are separating amicably and continuing as friends rather than spouses, without losing out on a meaningful but platonic relationship in their retirement years.
While ‘Boomers’ are aged 55 and up, the Office for National Statistics prefers to split the age groups at 65 and over.
Across the board in the most recent data, for the years 2005-15, divorces in England and Wales fell by 28%.
But among over-65s the number of divorces increased by 23% for men and 38% for women. So what’s going on in the ‘Silver Splitters’ generation?
One factor is the ageing population. Put simply, there are moreover-65s than there used to be and more of them are getting married – some 92% of people who get married aged 65 or over have previously been divorced or widowed.
Taking this into account, the divorce rate in the older generation has stayed at about 0.13% for men and 0.09% for women over the past decade.
The ONS suggested that an increase in divorce and remarriage among over-65s could be in part due to the connectedness of modern lifestyles encouraging more people to assert their independence after years of marriage.
Age gaps are less significant as the internet makes it easier to form friendships with people outside our own demographic groups, and economic independence is greater as moreover-65s of all genders are staying in work instead of retiring.
In practical terms, getting married has implications for inheritance tax that were only introduced in 2007 – which might explain the increase in older people getting married in the years since.
If you’re part of this trend for people reaching their retirement years who want to divorce their partners, mediators can help you to do this amicably, without excess stress and without the financial costs of negotiating a divorce settlement in court.
We know that older spouses may be more likely to contest the divorce, believing that their marriage should last for the rest of their life, and we can talk to both parties to try and resolve any such impasse and allow the divorce to proceed.
At Marcia Mediation we also provide follow-up care and support – our involvement does not end when you receive your decree absolute – so if you are worried about dealing with divorce alone, please remember that we are here for you even after the legal process ends.
If you have any questions, call us on 07791 560 161 or fill out this form
