Prenups are
a popular topic in relationships. For some, prenups are a cushion just in case
things go sour and others, prenuptial agreements conjure up feelings of anger
& mistrust. I can see how prenups can bring up mistrust because couples
don't trust each other to weather relationship storms together. Most people do not want to think
about divorce and division of property before they even get married. However,
with 41 percent of first marriages, 60 percent of second marriages and 73
percent of third marriages ending in divorce, it can be smart to have a
prenuptial agreement. A
prenuptial agreement outlines financial considerations in the event a marriage
fails. Prenups often detail how assets will be divided, who is responsible for
debts and whether a spouse will receive alimony. Prenups also force marrieds to
discuss finances, which are among the top 3 for divorce. My take on prenups is
pretty straightforward: Unless you're certain you and your s/o are going to be
with each other for life, a prenup should never come into play but for couples
who want a contingency plan, prenups would be in order. Prenups are a type of
contract created by two people before entering into marriage. This contract
could outline each party's responsibilities and property rights for the duration
of the marriage. More commonly, prenuptial agreements outline terms and
conditions associated with dividing up financial assets and responsibilities if
the marriage dissolves. Prenuptial
agreements have always been a very controversial topic for couples. Media
portrayals of prenuptial agreements show them as devices that celebrities and
other similar high net worth individuals use in order to cap the amount of
wealth that an ex-spouse can claim. However, when carefully planned and used
correctly, a prenuptial agreement can be a fair way of disbursing assets and
responsibilities. I remember prenups were frowned upon in earlier times because
they corrupted what marriage is supposed to stand for but as time passed, more
people are wising up to the fact that in the best of marriages, you want to
cover your bases. If your man/woman gets mad that you want them to sign a
pre-nup, that's a red flag in my opinion and leaves the relationship a lot to be
desired.
