Survey: U.S. lawyers see increase in boomer divorces

CHICAGO, June 12 (UPI) -- More than 60 percent of a group of U.S. divorce attorneys say they saw an increase in the number of divorce cases among couples age 50 and older.

A survey by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers found 61 percent of its members cited an increase in divorce cases among 50-year-old couples during the past five years, while 37 percent said they saw no change.

"Baby boomers have regularly been catalysts for social change and getting divorced in their later years appears to be one of the most recent trends," Alton Abramowitz, president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, said in a statement.

Thirty-eight percent of the lawyers said the most contentious topic between the couples was alimony, followed by 20 percent who said business interests and 14 percent who cited retirement accounts. Wives age 50 and older were more often seen as initiating the divorce.

The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers is comprised of 1,600 matrimonial attorneys throughout the nation. No further survey details were provided.