There are many people in Illinois who file for divorce every year. Divorce can occur for a variety of reasons and at a variety of stages in people’s lives. Sometimes they occur within the first year of a marriage and sometimes they occur after a couple has been married for 30 years. The point where people realize that they are no longer compatible can occur at any time. However, the reasons they find out they are no longer compatible may be a little different when they are older.
Results from a recent study looked at how serious illnesses, such as heart or lung diseases, affected marriages. The study looked at couples with at least one spouse who was over 50 years old. The study found that if the woman is the one who falls ill, the couple is more likely to get divorced. Interestingly, the study found that it was the woman who generally filed for divorce after her husband didn’t provide her with proper care while she was ill.
Older couples who end their marriages will still have to deal with many of the same issues that younger couples deal with, but there may be some differences. For one, generally older couples will not have to deal with child custody, as many times the couple will no longer have minor children. However, they may have more complications as they deal with asset division because they may have more assets to divide. They may have vacation properties, multiple retirement accounts, investment accounts and others. After the property is valued, then they can start dividing the assets.
When older women in Illinois develop a serious illness, there may be an increased chance of divorce for that couple. Despite being older, these couples will still have to deal with asset division and other aspects of a divorce. Attorneys understand asset division in high asset divorces and may be a helpful resource for those going through these divorces.
Source: University Herald, “Divorce Rates in Older Couples Higher When Wives Fall Sick, Study,” Stephen Adkins, May 2, 2014