Why Older People Are Divorcing More Than They Used To

Older “gray divorce” is increasing in the United States, and experts point to changing expectations among people 50 and older. The article describes the case of Alan Hickenbottom, 67, who filed for divorce in 2021 after more than 30 years, despite believing the marriage succeeded. While his early relationship centered on shared interests and raising two children, he later felt the partnership became more like “colleagues and roommates” after the kids left. Overall divorce patterns show that gray divorce doubled between 1990 and 2010, and nearly 40% of divorces today involve people 50 and older. Although rates stabilized after the pandemic, the share of divorces among Americans 65+ is still an exception to broader declines. Sociologists connect the trend to more Gen X and baby boomers leaving so-called “empty-shell marriages,” where there is no real connection or vitality.