Thinking about getting a prenuptial agreement made?
If you’re in love, chances are, this time of year you start thinking about flowers and heart-shaped boxes of chocolates. And depending on how serious your relationship is, you might even be thinking about diamonds.
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, this time of year is a popular one to be getting engaged. If you’re part of a lucky, newly engaged couple, you might soon be entering the unchartered waters of wedding planning. If the idea of a prenuptial agreement scares you, that’s pretty common.
That said, there are likely a few things you don’t know about prenups; here are a few of the most common myths floating around:
You only need one if you’re super rich.
A prenuptial agreement is just there to protect the ultra wealthy partner in the relationship, right? Not exactly. A prenup is actually a very wise move for normal, everyday people – even those who think they’ll never actually need to use it.
The bottom line is, though no one ever plans to get divorced, when they do, they’re forced to face the stress and staggering legal fees that are often associated with the process.
A prenuptial agreement is an easy and comparatively inexpensive way to settle some issues before they (heaven forbid) become reality.
You only need a prenup if you’re planning on getting divorced.
Many people get very hurt when their partner suggests a prenuptial agreement because they think it means their partner is counting on their marriage failing. Believe it or not, prenups are extremely useful for couples who never divorce or separate.
Prenuptial agreements are very useful estate planning tools, and are especially helpful for spouses who may have children from a former marriage. If you have an estate plan in place, a prenup can help you protect that plan, even if your marriage lasts forever.
Prenuptial agreements are a romance killer.
If the idea of a prenup makes you feel like you’re entering into a business agreement rather than a marriage, maybe it’s time to take a closer look at what they really mean.
You’re about to marry the love of your life; shouldn’t you be able to sit down and discuss real-life plans and potential issues without it killing the love?
When you start your marriage on a solid financial foundation, those issues won’t throw you for a loop down the line.
They won’t stand anyway.
If you’ve heard that courts don’t actually uphold prenuptial agreements, think again; actually, it’s very rare for a court to invalidate a prenup, and it usually only happens when the agreement was not prepared with the help of an attorney or legal professional.
If you have properly drafted a prenuptial agreement, it’ll stand up in court down the line.
It’s a guy thing.
If you thought men were the only parties who ever request prenuptial agreements, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Prenups are very helpful for both partners in outlining each partner’s expectations for the marriage. That means no prenup ever needs to “favor” one partner over another.
If your fiancé requests a prenup, think about what you would like to see protected or settled for your own peace of mind. Prenups, just like marriages, are about give and take.
They’re super expensive.
Can’t afford a prenup? You likely don’t know how inexpensive prenuptial agreements can really be.
In fact, when you compare the cost to draw up a prenuptial agreement to the wedding itself or, heaven forbid, a divorce, you’ll see how financially wise a prenup can really be.
In the future, you’ll likely be glad you have the agreement in place, whether or not you ever divorce.
Getting engaged? We can help make sure you start the marriage on solid footing. Give us a call today.