Breaking the stigma of prenuptial agreements

On Behalf of | Mar 27, 2020 | Prenuptial Agreements |

Prenuptial agreements may not be the most romantic of gestures, but they can save your sanity in the event you and your spouse decide to get a divorce. Many couples are deterred by the idea of planning for a breakup. For others, it offers a peace of mind knowing that their own assets will be protected if life doesn’t go as planned.

For as much pushback as prenups have gotten in the past, younger couples are acknowledging the benefits at a higher rate than their predecessors, despite having a lower divorce rate.

Here are some of the top reasons signing a prenuptial agreement is wise:

  1. The divorce process is shortened: prenups make it simple by allocating who owns what early on, so there is no battling over it later. The agreements contractually establish personal and communal property, creating less opportunity for one partner to reverse course and attempt to claim something that rightfully belongs to the other during divorce proceedings.
  2. Divorce statistics aren’t on your side: there are many different figures for divorce rates in the U.S., but they are usually estimated at somewhere between 40-50% for first marriages. Second marriages have higher rates. There’s always a chance you’ll find yourself questioning your happily ever after, which is why it’s good to have a plan in place.
  3. The effects can be holistic: by signing a prenup early on before marriage, you’re creating a thoughtful, mindful approach to your marriage that can spill over in other positive ways.
  4. It’s practical: you can’t predict what your spouse will do in the future. While that may seem unsettling, confronting that reality early can save you pain later on.

It’s better to save romantic ideals for Hollywood and embrace the truth about marriage: it can be difficult, stressful, and not always what people expect once they’ve tied the knot. A prenuptial agreement can help you achieve the peace of mind that your marriage is an intentional act, embraced by both of you despite the odds.