Discussing a prenup before getting married can be an extremely uncomfortable situation for many couples. Some feel as if a prenup indicates a lack of trust while others believe they are unnecessary legal documents. If you have recently started planning your wedding and are being asked to sign a prenup, then here are a few things you should take into consideration.
These Documents Protect Everyone Involved
We now know that around 45 percent of all marriages end in divorce, and one of the only ways to legally defend yourself after a separation is to sign a prenup. These documents aren’t just designed to protect the highest earner in a relationship or the party who has the most assets. A well-crafted premarital agreement will protect every single party involved, and that might include extended family members, business partners, and future children.
Prenups Don’t Cover Everything
One of the most common misconceptions about prenups is that anything can be attached to them. Many people try to add clauses to these documents without realizing that they won’t mean anything if they get divorced. As a general rule, a prenup can’t include information regarding child support or the custody of future children. Couples also can’t put anything that might “promote” a divorce like demanding they separate if one party is caught cheating.
Everyone Can Speak With Their Own Attorney
While some couples use a single lawyer to craft their prenups, you should consider hiring your own family attorney to look over the documents. Even if you completely trust your partner, their lawyer might overlook a few key details that will invalidate the premarital agreement. Hiring an attorney to give you a second opinion on the documents will reduce your risk of a misunderstanding taking place later on.
Prenups Often Cover Future Assets
Some couples don’t sign prenups because their current assets or salaries are relatively small. What those individuals should realize is that a prenup can cover many different types of future assets. That includes large sums of money such as an inheritance or stake in a family company. Just because you have recently started a career and don’t own any major assets doesn’t mean you should avoid signing a prenup.
Signing a premarital agreement doesn’t need to be a stressful or confusing process. Taking some time to learn more about your rights and responsibilities before signing those documents will protect your current assets as well as your future finances.