Divorce is not always top of mind when you are in love and preparing to marry your future spouse. However, more than 50% of couples who say “I do” eventually say “I don’t anymore” and are forced to go through an emotionally difficult and financially costly divorce process. A prenuptial agreement can help make that difficult transition less difficult and can help each party have a better understanding of what to expect should a separation and divorce actually occur.
Setting your marriage up for success
Couples often rely on each other for emotional and financial support, it is a typical part of a marital expectation. When they can do this effectively, it can help a marriage last. But inevitably there will be rough times in any relationship. Many couples have found that relying on each other to get through hard times is more successful when they have established a common set of expectations and plans. A prenuptial agreement (prenup) can be an excellent tool to achieve this.
How can prenups help?
While some see a prenup as simply a divorce blueprint, it has the potential to be much more than that. It can actually serve as a tool to help you and your spouse get on the same page about important marital issues. These may include:
- Saving/spending
- Debt
- Employment expectations
By coming to an agreement on issues such as how you’ll alleviate separate or shared debt, or whether you can each ensure your own financial security if you have different spending/savings patterns, it can be easier to be partners in the relationship when challenges arise. A prenup can create a foundation to help couples support each other – and get through the tough times as a team. An experienced family law attorney can help couples figure out what elements need to be addressed in the prenup agreement so that spouses can properly prepare for their futures together.