If someone asked you where Florida ranked in the divorce rate among states in the U.S., would you guess that it is among the highest or among the lowest? Many people would cite the high population of elderly couples who retire to Florida, assuming that most couples of that age stay together, and say that the state would rank fairly low compared to other states.
The reality, though, is that some studies have put Florida at No. 3 overall in divorce rate. A study on the financial stress on the country pinpointed a high level of stress in Florida and connected it to the high divorce rate. Some couples break up directly because of this financial stress, while others are unprepared for life after divorce and feel it then.
One reason for this high ranking may actually be those older couples who retire here. When people over 50 years old get divorced, it is often referred to as gray divorce. It used to be very uncommon, but times have definitely changed.
If you look at the divorce rate in the U.S. over the last two decades, it has fallen. If you look at the rate of gray divorce over the same time period, though, it has risen. This is one population group that is splitting up more and more often. Therefore, it stands to reason that a high-population state like Florida, with a large number of older couples, would outrank most other states in overall divorce rate.
Regardless of age, if you and your spouse decide to split up, be sure you know exactly what steps to take.