According to data from the Office for National Statistics there has been an increase of 46% in the number of people over the age of 65 getting married. This is against the backdrop of an ageing population.
The same can also be said in relation to divorce statistics. Between 2005 and 2015 the number of men seeking a divorce aged 65 and over went up by 23% and the number of women of the same age divorcing increased by 38%.
The increase in relation to marriage and divorce is likely to be because people are living longer, with people adopting a “life is too short” mentality. In 2004, an average 65-year-old man could expect to live for a further 17 years and a woman for a further 20 years. Continuing a long-term trend, in 2017, this has increased to 19 years for a man and almost 22 years for a woman. The gap between male and female life expectancy is also narrowing.
Many people are now working beyond the age of 65 and many are economically comfortable and feel better able to deal with the financial ramifications that a divorce brings. One can see that there is life outside of the marital home.
For those contemplating marriage or remarriage over the age of 65, there is now an increased recognition and weight placed upon pre-nuptial agreements since the leading case of Radmacher and Granatino. People have an increased confidence that they can marry whilst preserving significant wealth that they are bringing to a marriage later in life.
If you are aged 65 or over and require advice regarding divorce or marriage get in touch with one of our family law specialists on 0800 024 1976 or email [email protected]