Grey divorce[1] is the demographic trend of an increasing divorce rate for older ("grey-haired") couples in long-lasting marriages, typically used for people over 50. The divorcing people may be called silver splitters.[2] Divorcing late in life can cause financial difficulties.
Former American vice-presidential couple Tipper and Al Gore's decision to separate after over 40 years of marriage is an example of this trend, as is the former married research and writing duo Masters and Johnson and music duo Captain and Tennille, whose own divorce came in 2014 after 39 years of marriage.[3] Another example of this is the divorce of the world's fourth-richest man, Bill Gates and his wife of 27 years, Melinda French Gates in May 2021.
Couples who divorce late in life affect the housing market. Whereas before the divorce, two older people may live in a single-family home, after the divorce, it is typical for at least one of them to live alone during the first few years after the divorce.[4] Although some silver splitters will move in with adult children, a romantic partner, or a roommate, most do not re-marry. Exchanging one married couple sharing a home for two single people living apart increases the demand for smaller and less expensive housing options, such as one-bedroom apartments. Many older single people need to find not only a home to live in, but a home that is affordable, will be safe and accessible as they age, and is near healthcare, transportation, and other needed services.
Living together as a married couple also provided both people in the marriage with some level of live-in mutual assistance. After the divorce, especially if they are living alone, they may not have access to assistance with household or financial tasks, with driving, or with activities of daily living when they are sick or if they become disabled. This increases the demand from aging people for social services, such as public transportation, professional caregiving, and subsidized or affordable housing.
Grey divorces tend to be financially harmful to the individuals. In addition to higher expenses (e.g., to maintain two homes instead of one shared home), the assets previously shared by the couple are divided.[5] Many are either retired or close to retirement, so they have less opportunity to earn or save more money than a person who divorced at a younger age. Any retirement savings that survive the divorce have little time to grow again.
They are also at risk of becoming socially isolated and lonely. Many people enjoy the autonomy of living alone, but loneliness can become a problem, especially as they age, or if they are kinless.[6] The rising number of elders living alone has encouraged research into automated assistance tools and robots that can provide friendly companionship, especially in Japan.
Grey divorce was documented in the United States as early as the 1980s,[7] but wasn't labeled as such until around 2004.[8] The phenomenon entered the public awareness with a 2004 AARP study[9] and was further elucidated in Deirdre Bair's 2007 book Calling It Quits, which contained interviews with grey divorcees.[10]
, in the US, about one third of divorces involve people over the age of 50. The divorce rate for people over the age of 50 doubled between 1990 and 2010.[11] By 2013, the number of divorcees over the age of 50 exceeded the number of widowed people (these numbers include people who divorced or survived the death of their spouses at any age).[12] Silver splitters have less than a 50% chance of re-marrying; about one in five women will remarry, and about two out of five men.
Possible causes for a higher rate of divorce among older people include the increase in human longevity, the cultural values of Baby Boomers, and women's increasing financial independence as potential causes.[8] Women are somewhat more likely to initiate divorce proceedings, and they benefit emotionally far more than financially.
Financial challenges include identifying and fairly dividing retirement savings, navigating the process of getting qualified domestic relations orders for any defined benefit pension plans, and agreeing on any temporary alimony payments. Social Security benefits, assuming the marriage lasted at least 10 years, are relatively standardized for divorcing couples. These financial challenges, on average, disproportionately harm women. Their standard of living nearly halves, while men's declines by about 20%.
See main article: Retired husband syndrome. In Japan it is referred to as .[13] While devoting years to his career, a husband may rarely see his family.[14] As a result, a husband and wife may not interact extensively. When the husband retires, both can feel they are living with a virtual stranger.[15] This can cause particular stress for the woman who, as society dictated in her youth, is now expected to attend to her husband's every need. The stress of change in lifestyle brings a number of problems,[14] including feelings of resentment towards husbands.
Older couples are responsible for the overall increase in the divorce rate in the United Kingdom in the twenty-first century.[16]