2 reasons for an empty nest divorce

Becoming empty-nesters is always a major change for parents. They may have spent the last 20 years raising their children, and when the children move out of the house, it is quite a jarring shift.

In some cases, this stage in life can trigger a divorce. The couple has been together for decades, but decides to end the marriage. Why would this happen just because the children moved out?

1. Waiting until the children are adults

For one thing, many parents intentionally wait until their children are adults before they get divorced. They know that staying married gives the children more stability and a sense of security. They intentionally wait until the kids move out to dissolve the marriage, thinking it will have less of an impact on them.

It is important to note, however, that divorce is not always negative for children. In fact, it can be more detrimental for them to live in a high-conflict household as opposed to having divorced parents. Still, this is often one of the reasons parents stay together until they are empty nesters.

2. Discovering marital issues

Another common situation is that parents think their relationship is fine, but they discover significant marital issues after the children move out. In reality, being parents took so much time and energy that they simply overlooked the issues in their own marriage. Once the parents are living alone together as a couple, these conflicts and deeper marital problems can become clear, and they may decide to divorce.

Getting divorced at this stage in life often means that child custody isn’t an issue, but property division can be more complex. That’s why it’s so important for couples to know what legal options they have.