Several variables can predict whether a marriage will end in divorce. Factors include income levels, having children, and the amount of time a couple spends together before marriage. Here’s everything you need to know about whether an age gap affects the likelihood of getting divorced.
Studies have shown that the likelihood of divorce increases as the age gap between spouses increases. Spouses with large age gaps may need to understand how their marriage can be impacted by their age difference. Child custody, alimony, and property division may be affected by a divorce between spouses with a large age gap, but on a case-by-case basis.
How Age Gap Affects Divorce
A 2014 study by The Atlantic found that the larger the age gap of a couple, the more likely the marriage would end in divorce. The study looked at several age intervals and how the number of years between spouses increased the rate of divorce.
An age gap in a marriage can create more problems in the divorce process. The study found that even just a 5-year difference in age makes a couple 18% more likely to split up, with a 10-year difference making them 39% more likely to divorce. As the age gap increases, the percentage in likelihood for divorce does as well.
The actual ages of the couple may also play a factor in divorce. A couple who marries with a 10-year difference at ages of 20 and 30 is very different from a couple who gets married at the ages of 40 and 50. A couple at the ages of 20 and 30 may be at different points in their lives, while a couple at the ages of 40 and 50 may be at the same stages in their lives, despite both couples having a ten-year age gap.
Related: Contested and Uncontested Divorce: The Difference
FAQS about How Age Affects Divorce
Can an age gap affect property division in a divorce?
In an equitable distribution state, the court fairly rules on property division on a case-by-case instance. A couple’s large age gap may affect the way property is divided in a divorce. For example, if one spouse is getting old and is unable to move easily or safely, they may be the party that retains the marital home.
Can an age gap affect alimony in a divorce?
Alimony may be affected if a spouse is significantly younger. When an older spouse is the breadwinner in the marriage, there may be larger alimony. On the other hand, if the older spouse is retired at the time of divorce, they may not have the means to pay alimony. Therefore, the younger spouse may receive other assets to make up for a lack of alimony.
If one spouse is planning on retiring soon, alimony payments may change. Parties may want to include a provision in their divorce settlement about what will happen when one or either spouse retires.
Can an age gap affect child custody in a divorce?
The “best interest” of a child is always considered when the court determines custody arrangements. An age gap may affect custody if one spouse is unable to properly care for the child(ren) due to their age.
If a spouse retires or is planning on retiring soon, their amount of child support payments may be affected. If the parent paying child support experiences a decrease in income following retirement, both parties may return to court and request an adjustment in the child support calculation.
How do age gaps in a divorce affect the division of retirement accounts?
Age gaps in a divorce may affect the division of retirement accounts. In divorces with large age gaps, one spouse may need to contribute to their retirement fund(s) longer than the other spouse.
The division of assets within retirement accounts, and whether they will be divided at all, considers relevant pre- or post-nuptial agreements and depends on which spouse contributed to the account(s) during the marriage.
Related: How to Serve Divorce Papers in California
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