The average age for a person to get married for the first time is around 27 for women and 29 for men. While this indicates people are waiting longer to get married, it still hasn’t changed the average age when most people get divorced. Today, the average age for a person’s first divorce occurs around the time he or she is 30. It’s also interesting to note the majority of divorces occur among adults under the age of 40. The professionals from Divorce Options San Diego, the experts in divorce mediation San Diego couples rely on for creative alternatives to contentious and costly divorces, discuss the connection between age and divorce.
Average Length of Marriages
You might have heard about the seven-year itch, which is a time when people tend to start feeling dissatisfied with their marriages. Although no one is really sure why people get unhappy around the seven-year mark, it’s important to realize many marriages only last this long. Dealing with the sources of your marital unhappiness during this time could potentially save your marriage. However, most people still end up divorced, even if it takes a little longer.
Reasons for Younger People to Get a Divorce
People under the age of 40 are often in the busiest times of their lives. Married people may be raising children, building careers, and caring for their senior loved ones during this life stage. Due to so many changes occurring, it’s common for conflicts to arise between spouses. People who got married young may also realize they’ve simply grown apart and want to pursue different dreams.
Why Older Adults May Divorce Later in Life
Approximately 40 percent of divorces involve couples over 40. People in this age range may choose to get divorced after years of being unhappy or waiting for their children to grow up. Some people divorce due to infidelity, just as younger adults might. Money and health issues can also strain marriages that are already weakened. Since some people in this age group have already been through divorce, they may not fear going through the process again.
Issues that Must Be Addressed During a Divorce
The age at which you get divorced affects some of the decisions you need to make. Younger people may need to make arrangements for child custody and visitation. Older adults may be more concerned about how they’ll split their retirement assets or who will stay in their home. The majority of couples need to decide how to split their property and debts regardless of their age, but older adults may have more at stake. Fortunately, mediation is an option you can use no matter how old you are during your divorce. This method helps you work through your issues and begin setting up a solid foundation for the next stage in your life.
Divorce is difficult at any age, so having a plan for starting over can help a great deal as you’re ending your marriage. One way to focus on that plan during your divorce is to work with experienced divorce mediators. San Diego couples can benefit enormously from the expertise of the team at Divorce Options San Diego. With backgrounds in law, finance, conflict resolution, and psychology, we empower couples to dissolve their marriages with respect and mutual satisfaction and move on to the next stage of life with optimism. To learn more about our revolutionary divorce mediation process, give us a call today at 858-281-2628.
