Tips about Prenuptial Agreements

An Overview for the Uninitiated

Nothing can take the heat out of a romance faster than the words, “Prenuptial Agreement.”  However, in the long run, there is nothing quite like the comfort of knowing you have planned for the future and are protected. The trouble for most, when it comes to prenuptial agreements, is that there is a lack of understanding as to what they can and cannot do. 

It is a commonly held belief that only the fabulously wealthy need a prenuptial agreement; however, that is far from the truth.  Sure Donald Trump has millions he may want to protect, but there are plenty of people that have worked for years building a nest egg, a retirement account or purchasing a home that they want to make sure is protected.  Perhaps most importantly, a prenuptial does not mean the parties are ever planning to divorce and it may be nice to know before the wedding if your spouse refuses to sign such an agreement.

If you have assets you acquired before your marriage, have children from a prior marriage, expect to acquire any money or property, have a business that is about to take off, own real estate, want to address alimony or are expecting any other kind of financial windfall, you could benefit from a prenuptial agreement.  By being aware of a few basic concepts, you can better understand the workings of prenuptial agreements and when you may benefit from one.  If you have the protection of a prenuptial agreement, you can control where your property goes and avoid having a judge or court determine how property that may arguably be separate is divided.