As Divorce Changes American Families, Experts Offer Advice
New research demonstrates that divorce is actually making American families bigger, with almost one-third of all U.S. households that contain adults under the age of 55 having at least one stepparent, and 33 percent of all couples over the age of 55 having a stepchild. Ultimately, the rise in divorce and remarriage is driving these changes, with the divorce rate doubling for older Americans, leaving approximately 40 percent of them with children in stepfamilies, and almost 30 percent of adults over the age of 50 getting married more than once. Below, we discuss some advice proffered by those who have gone through some of these changes. As Families Blend, There Can Be Confusion As divorce increases and the size of American families along with it, plenty of confusion can also come into play, as couples and families plan vacations, chose how to spend their earnings on college tuition, and make other, important decisions involving both biological and step-relatives. These same changes carry on into old age, where stepchildren sometimes end up with more elderly parents to care for, and aging parents have more children and relatives in general to lean on. Still, stepfamilies often have to work harder to turn weak bonds into strong ones. Caring For Children in Two Separate Households Nothing highlights that better than stories told by families who are trying to care for one or more children in two different homes. To that end, some of these families have offered advice on how to ensure that all children involved in more than one household are well cared-for: Consider working with a professional social worker or psychologist to help get you through times of significant change; Never hesitate to reach out to the other parent if there’s something of concern with regard to your shared children; Find ways to communicate with the other parent without implying that you are always right; Spot negative trends and work to eliminate them; Share all relevant medical information; and Listen to your child if they express preferences. Know that the life of sharing kids can be difficult; even more so if your child is also trying to manage a significant illness. Divorcing Later In Life Similarly, couples who’ve gone through divorce later in life (after age 50), when you can face particular hurdles, have also offered some words of wisdom, such as: Know that divorce not only impacts young children, but older ones no longer living at home; thus, if you are only staying married so that your divorce hits once your kids have left for college, consider re-thinking your timeline; If you’ve been out of the workforce for some time, consider getting advice from a financial and/or career counselor early on so that you have a plan in place before you divorce; Know that there will be times of loneliness, particularly if you are used to living with someone else and/or having your children at home at all times; Consider expanding your network of friends and others who offer support before you get divorced; and Know that waiting to consult a divorce attorney can actually end up costing you more. Starting early means that you can gather more options, as well as ask more questions of your attorney about billing. Florida Divorce Attorneys If you or a loved one are contemplating getting a divorce, contact one of our experienced divorce attorneys at HD Law Partners right away to find out more about your options. Our Florida legal team is prepared to assist you today. Resources: bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-12-18/divorce-is-making-american-families-66-bigger marketwatch.com/story/divorce-after-50-what-i-wish-i-had-known-beforehand-2017-12-06 Tags: Divorce, Tampa Divorce Lawyer, Tampa Divorce Lawyers Posted in Divorce, Family Law | No Comments » Connect with us Archives May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 July 2025 June 2025 January 2025 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 November 13 Categories Alimony Appellate Arbitration Auto Accidents Auto Insurance Business Corporate Business Insurance Law Child Custody Child Support Criminal Law Divorce Family Law FEMA Insurance Payments Florida’s Mandatory 2‑Hour Legal Professionalism CLE: Foreclosure Defense Fort Myers Hurricane Insurance Attorney General Guardianship HD Law Partners Service HOA/Property Management Homeowners Association Homeowners Insurance Hurricane Claims Hurricane Insurance Insurance Bad Faith Insurance Claims Insurance Defense Insurance Litigation Landlord Tenant Law Enforcement Liability Loan Modifications Mold Water Damage Parental Rights Paternity Personal Injury Premises Liability Law Prenuptial Agreements Private Security Property Distribution Property Owner Law Sarasota Insurance Litigation Attorney Slip Fall Tampa Business and Corporate Attorneys tampa family attorney Tampa Insurance Attorneys Timeshare Timesharing Uncategorized HD Law Partners is proud to be your trusted full-service law firm Quick Links Property & Casualty Business & Corporate Litigation Family Law Contact Us Careers Get In Touch 2002 North Lois Avenue Suite 510 Tampa, FL 33607 813-253-5333 Contact Us