What is a silver splitter?

A growing percentage of silver splitters are couples who have been married before and they are going through separation and divorce for a second time. It is reported that people who have been divorced are two and a half times more likely to go through it again.

What is the meaning of silver splitters?

There has been a trend in the last decade of divorce rates for the over 65's increasing, leading to a new category of divorcees commonly referred to as “silver splitters”. Whether someone is aged 20 or over 65, or anywhere in between, the process for divorce is the same.

What are the four behaviors that cause 90% of all divorces?

Relationship researcher John Gottman identifies four specific behaviors that often predict divorce: criticism, contempt, defensiveness, and stonewalling. He calls these the “Four Horsemen” and highlights the significant damage even one of these can inflict on a marriage.

What is silver splitting?

The divorce rate for couples in their 50s and 60s is rising. This trend is often referred to as 'silver splitters' or 'grey divorce'. As more people are living longer and expectations for relationships change, more people are choosing to separate later in life.

What is the difference between a grey divorce and a divorce?

Gray divorce refers to older couples who have decided to end their marriage. These divorces are unique because they often involve a long-term marriage and the need to divide substantial assets. If you are considering divorce later in life, it is important to understand how it may differ from divorcing at a younger age.

Silver splitters – divorce in later life has its own issues

Who initiates 90% of divorces?

Among college-educated women, wives initiated their divorces close to 90% of the time. Researchers speculate that when women decide to end their marriages, their relationship problems have gone unaddressed or unresolved for a long time. Many reasons motivate them.

What is the #1 thing that destroys marriages?

1. Lack of Honesty. Often when we think of honesty, notably honesty in marital relationships, we think of a very tangible “where were you last night” kind of honesty. While this is obviously critically important, there are many other kinds of dishonesty that can destroy marriages.

Why are silver splitters on the rise?

One cause identified is that adults are living longer and don't want to stay in an unhappy marriage when they have many more years of good health. Sixty-five to seventy is no longer seen as old age with more adults of mature years taking greater care of their health and well-being.

What is the silver divorce rate?

In 2024 and 2025, grey divorce – divorce among individuals aged 50 and older – is a substantial and growing phenomenon in the U.S. According to Clio's 2025 report: “the percentage of divorces involving adults 50 and older jumped from 8.7% in 1990 to 36% by 2019.” According to data from the Pew Research Center, divorce ...

What causes silver divorce?

One of the most significant causes of gray divorce is the changes people experience as they age. Growing apart is the most frequently cited reason for divorce at any age. For older adults specifically, aging represents a big change, and people's priorities, interests, and needs may shift as they grow older.

What are the 4 marriage killers?

Gottman studied more than 2,000 married couples over two decades and found four attitudes that most predict the dissolution of a relationship, especially in combination. They are criticism, defensiveness, contempt and stonewalling — the four horsemen of the apocalypse.

What is the 10-10-10 rule for divorce?

The 10/10 Rule states that if a couple has been married for at least ten years, during which the service member has completed at least ten years of creditable military service, the non-military spouse is entitled to receive a portion of the military retirement pay directly from the Defense Finance and Accounting ...

What are the 4 toxic relationship habits?

Known as 'The Four Horsemen', these are criticism, contempt, defensiveness and stonewalling. All couples are likely to engage in these communication styles at some point. However, if consistently experienced, these counterproductive behaviours can have a very negative impact on your relationship.

What is the no. 1 predictor of divorce?

Six Factors That Predict Divorce

• Contempt. Of all the predictive factors, contempt is the most prominent one. ...
• Criticism. Criticism is among the four predictors of divorce, as described by Dr Gottman. ...
• Stonewalling. ...
• Lack of intimacy. ...
• Infidelity. ...
• Being too needy.

What is the biggest mistake during a divorce?

5 Biggest Mistakes You Must Avoid Making During Divorce

1. Waiting Too Long to File for Divorce. It's natural to want to wait to file for divorce. ...
2. Waiting Too Long to Hire an Attorney. ...
3. Moving Out of the Marital Home Too Soon. ...
4. Failing to Separate Finances Early. ...
5. Trying Too Hard to Avoid Litigation.

What is the average length of marriage before divorce?

15 percent of adult women in the United States are divorced or separated today, compared with less than one percent in 1920. 20. The average first marriage that ends in divorce lasts about 8 years.

What's the hardest year of marriage?

According to Hartstein, the first year really is the hardest—even if you've already lived together. In fact, it often doesn't matter if you've been together for multiple years, the start of married life is still tricky.

What years of marriage are most common for divorce?

According to data from the United States Census Bureau, many divorces tend to occur between the fourth and eighth years of marriage. This period is often referred to as the “seven-year itch,” a concept supported by various sociological studies and statistical analyses.

Which marriage has the highest divorce rate?

While arranged marriages have a lower divorce rate, this is often due to societal pressure, financial dependencies, and family obligations. Love marriages, on the other hand, are more likely to end in divorce because they are based purely on personal compatibility rather than family considerations.

What is the #1 cause of divorce?

Over half of all participants cited infidelity as a major reason for divorce and infidelity was the most often endorsed “final straw” reason. Infidelity is not a major focus in PREP, though the curriculum does address the importance of commitment, including protecting one's relationship from attraction to others.

What age is too late for divorce?

Legally, of course, there is no "cutoff" date for divorce. Couples of any age can divorce, even those in their 80s or 90s. However, just because a couple can divorce does not necessarily translate into whether they should divorce.

Why do couples divorce after 50 years?

Financial Disputes: Disagreements over finances are among the main reasons for gray divorce, as older couples have typically acquired more wealth than younger couples. Financial disputes can take the form of arguments over investments, budgeting, or how best to spend retirement funds.

What is unforgivable in marriage?

They found that acts such as infidelity, physical or emotional abuse, lying or betrayal of trust, addiction to drugs or alcohol, criminal acts, disinterest in the relationship or harming a child were considered completely unforgivable for many.

What is the 777 rule in marriage?

Theres a rule out there called the 777 rule that offers couples a gentle, intentional way to keep their bond strong and their hearts aligned. The concept is simple yet powerful: have a date night every seven days, a weekend getaway every seven weeks, and a romantic holiday every seven months.

What is the biggest marriage killer?

In order to make sure our marriages survive and thrive, here are some relationship killers every couple should be on the lookout for:

• Stress: ...
• Technology: ...
• Selfishness: ...
• Unforgiveness: ...
• Loose Boundaries: ...
• The Past: ...
• Dishonesty: ...
• Pride: