When you’re considering marriage, you want to focus on the positives of building a life together. Unfortunately, things don’t always go as planned – and having a prenuptial agreement can help provide peace of mind.
They can be especially important considering that 50% of all marriages in America end in divorce.
Here are some of the possible pros and cons:
Pros:
Financial matters are exposed, and it helps you face what might become bigger problems later on if they aren’t disclosed or discussed prior.
Find out whether your future spouse is even open to signing a prenuptial agreement if it is something that is important to you. You don’t want to find this out too late.
If your marriage ends in divorce, you’ll be able to avoid battles over such things as finances, assets and property. It can also help preserve family inheritances.
Having everything laid out clearly before the wedding can help your significant other know what is important to you, and what your expectations are.
It can help protect children from a previous marriage from losing assets.
Deciding to sign a prenuptial agreement doesn’t mean that you anticipate a divorce. It simply means you want to be prepared for the worst, but hope for the best.
Cons:
It can cause resentment with your significant other if they view it as you trying to find an easy way out of marriage, or that you’re not fully committed.
Signing a prenup might make others think there is a lack of trust between the two of you.
If someone fails to disclose all assets, a prenup can be set aside. They can also be set aside because of a lack of representation or evidence of fraud.
Some people believe that signing a prenup means you’re planning the divorce before you actually plan the wedding.
They are simply unromantic, and can cause friction where there wasn’t any before.
