Gray divorce the term for splits that occur among folks over the age of 50 has been on the rise for the last several decades.

In 1990, fewer than one in 10 Americans getting divorced were 50+ years old, according to a 2022 statistical analysis published in the Journal of Gerontology . In 2010, that number was one in four. By 2019, it was one in three.

Authors of the study believe this likely has to do with societys increasing acceptance of divorce, as well as women having more financial and emotional independence.

All these factors set the stage and make it more acceptable than a generation ago, co-author Susan Brown told AARP .

We asked HuffPost readers who divorced after the age of 50 to share the moment they realized their marriage was over. Read their first-hand accounts below:

Responses have been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.

1. Divorced at 61 after 29 years. He left my 50th birthday party to go home and get drunk but denied it. Eventually I could no longer pretend things were OK after years of unpredictable behavior, rage at the slightest remark, lies about finances, job-hopping until he retired without telling me. It felt like I couldnt breathe. The truth? I wanted to be happy, and I wouldnt be if I stayed married. Mary B.

2. When I asked him if he was having another affair, and he said, Its none of your business. Janelle R.

3. I was 50, second marriage, diagnosed with breast cancer and husband said he couldnt cope with that. Sharon P.

4. Differences in future. I had a solid job she wanted me to stay in a few more years. I had a side venture that was working (and it did). The youngest kid was 18, so no child support needed. Were still great friends but had to go different ways. Id estimate this split cost me $500,000. But worth it. Craig G.

5. My ex and I had not been speaking to each other after a particularly bad fight. Then 9/11 happened. It was such a traumatic event and yet we both still refused to speak to each other to offer any kind of comfort. I realized our marriage was over when we couldnt set our anger aside at a time when we should have been supporting each other through such a tragic time. Pam M.

6. Divorced after 28 years of marriage and two kids. There were many red flags, being told I was inconveniencing him when he needed to take a day off since I was having minor surgery. Or when I came home from a business trip, and he was gone. Figured out he was on a motorcycle trip with a co-worker, who is now his wife. He didnt think he did anything wrong since they hadnt slept together. And to make matters worse, we worked for the same company. Louise S.

7. I knew my marriage was over after I endured the extreme cruelty he exhibited during the divorce, even though I prayed for reconciliation until the end. Jenni K.

8. We were married for 30 years. I always knew the marriage wasnt good, but I learned that the opposite of good isnt necessarily bad. So it took me growing confident in myself to initiate the divorce. Our kids were in college, and I just didnt want to feel so alone all the time. I told him that Id rather be lonely by myself than with someone but feel lonely. Lee K.