Why do some couples choose a gray divorce?

When most California couples marry, they anticipate growing old with the person they love. However, lives change, and it is not so unusual these days for couples to divorce after two or even three decades of marriage. What is behind this phenomenon, referred to as a gray divorce?

Divorce is losing its negative stigma

These days, re-evaluating your life after 20 or 30 years of marriage and deciding you want to divorce is more socially acceptable than it may have been in decades past. Many people look at their life and realize that the person who was a good match in their twenties is not such a great match now that they are in their fifties. The idea that divorce is not as taboo as it once was gives couples the freedom needed to part ways.

Life after major milestones

These days, people often view their life in chapters. They may have married during the chapter in life in which they were raising a family and building a career. Once the kids are grown and retirement is on the horizon, some people re-examine their marriage. They may start to think about how they want to spend their remaining years, and for some, this means stepping forward as a single individual.

 A “gray divorce” can be rewarding

Getting divorced, even if you have been married for years, is generally better than staying in an unhappy marriage. Some people in their senior years regret not divorcing sooner. In the end, it is up to each person to evaluate their life and relationships from time to time, to determine what they want for their life moving forward.