Prenups can foster a good marriage, and help in case of divorce

Prenuptial agreements have a terrible reputation, one that was born out of a generation of people that believed the documents were “anti-love” and that they somehow undermined a marriage before it ever even started. However, many couples have since learned that prenuptial agreements are extremely helpful tools in a marriage — and, if necessary, a divorce.

First off, prenups give the couple a chance to have a frank and honest discussion about the assets and holdings involved in their relationship. Family businesses, important assets, major debts — all of these things can be discussed and the soon-to-be-spouses can figure out how they want to handle these things in their prenuptial agreement.

The prenup can also clarify a lot of intricate factors in a relationship. For example, it can clarify who has financial responsibility in the marriage. Also, the document inherently has the ability to head off disputes and time-consuming argument over assets and money should a divorce arise.

Remember, thought, that this document must be compliant with the law and it must be properly drafted and completed. Failing to do so could invalidate the prenuptial agreement, or leave the document open to a legal challenge by one of the spouses.

Ultimately, these documents can do a lot of good for those who are about to get married. They can also be lifesavers for those going through a divorce. However, you must remember that these documents are not to be taken lightly, and that you need to thoroughly research every aspect of them before heading into a discussion with your spouse about potentially signing a prenup.

Source: FindLaw, “Can Prenuptial Agreements Help You?,” Accessed March 7, 2015