Pennsylvania couples who are 50 years or older may be interested in learning that the divorce rate has doubled over the last three decades. At the same time, however, the number of younger couples that are divorcing is actually decreasing.
For every 1,000 married individuals who were over the age of 50, 10 divorced in 2015. For married individuals who were older than 65, six people were divorced. According to the National Center for Health Statistics and U.S. Census Bureau, this number represents a threefold increase since 1990. The climbing divorce rate is often linked to the baby boomer generation, which now ranges in age from 52 to 69. The number of divorces increased sharply for baby boomers when they were young adults, which may have caused their second or third marriages to not work out.
Additionally, baby boomers who have been married for shorter periods of time are also more at risk for getting divorces. For example, the rate of divorce in those who had been married for less than 10 years was 21 people per 1,000 individuals. The divorce rate in baby boomers who have been married for longer than 20 years was 13 people per 1,000 individuals.
Filing for divorce at an older age can be complicated as an individual has likely obtained both separate and marital assets. If someone has attempted to go through mediation with his or her former spouse but the negotiations failed, a family law attorney may assist an estranged couple to work towards an agreement. If a person has a prenuptial agreement, a lawyer may enforce it as long as it is valid. If there is no prenup, the attorney may continue negotiating with the other party or fight for certain assets in court.