When you get married, the farthest thing from your mind is divorce. Instead, you’re hoping that your marriage lasts forever.
However, since there’s no way of predicting the future, it’s critical to protect yourself. This is often best done through the creation of a prenuptial agreement.
A prenuptial agreement allows you to tackle a variety of issues often associated with divorce, before you actually tie the knot. Here are some of the many things a prenuptial agreement can be used for:
- To protect assets that both individuals bring into the marriage
- To protect one person from the other’s debt
- To determine what will happen to property upon each individual’s death
- To outline the financial rights of both individuals during the marriage
- To protect the inheritance rights of children from a previous relationship
With a comprehensive prenuptial agreement in place, it’s much easier to tackle the divorce process in a timely and cost-effective manner.
How to ask for a prenuptial agreement
Once you understand the benefits of a prenuptial agreement, you can turn your attention to asking your partner for their thoughts. This is easier said than done, as you don’t want to “rock the boat” while you plan for your wedding.
Here are some tips for asking for a prenuptial agreement:
- Explain the pros and cons from your point of view
- Don’t issue demands, but instead have an honest conversation
- Listen, answer questions and ask questions
- Don’t pressure your partner into signing a prenuptial agreement
- Take as much time as you need to figure things out
When you plan far in advance, you’ll leave yourself with enough time to create a prenuptial agreement before your wedding day arrives.
While you’re not required to create a prenuptial agreement before marriage, it can give you peace of mind. With this legally binding document in place, both you and your spouse are protected in the event of a divorce.
Even if you don’t end up creating a prenuptial agreement, you should discuss the pros and cons with your partner to determine if it makes sense. This gives you the opportunity to have a meaningful conversation during which you can look toward the future.