Wellesley Family Law Blog

The following subject matter focused on divorce-linked asset distribution reasonably enough applies to every impending-ex demographic.

That cuts a wide swath, of course. Many younger couples in Massachusetts and elsewhere (we’ll just quickly pop in those oft-cited Millennial and Gen-X references here) cut marital ties in relatively quick fashion after voicing “I do” vows. And the baby boomer crowd has been notably spotlighted in recent years for a divorce propensity that materially exceeds all other age groups.

Baby boomers have contributed a lot to society, but unfortunately an increasing divorce rate is one of their more recent contributions.

Studies indicate that the baby boomer generation, people born between 1946 and 1964, has the highest divorce rate in American history. They are also the only generation that has an increasing divorce rate as they age.

Divorce agreements can be complex. Tying off loose ends at the end of a marriage leaves much for both parties to resolve before going their separate ways. Spousal support, commonly known as alimony, is among those issues.

Massachusetts is a limited duration alimony state. That means the recipient receives support payments for a duration that is based on the length of your marriage. Those who were married longer make alimony payments longer than those married for a shorter time. Here is the breakdown:

It can be difficult for people to understand why a married couple who has been married for 20, 30 or even 40 years has chosen to divorce. One reason it can be hard to comprehend this decision is because it was once a relatively rare occurrence for older Americans to make. However, the flood gates of gray divorce have been knocked down in recent years. Since 1990, the divorce rate for couples over 50 have doubled.

Many people assume that gray divorce is spurred on by one person in the marriage who is going through a mid-life crisis. It can also be assumed that the decision to divorce has been a long-held desire that can finally come to fruition in later life. However, even though these scenarios can play a part in gray divorce, they are not the only reason why older Americans choose to divorce. Here are some potentially surprising facts you should know about gray divorce.