How to Ask Your Future Spouse for a Prenuptial Agreement

 Posted on January 22, 2018 in Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements

The period around the winter holidays is a time when many hopeful romantics get engaged. Whether it is on Christmas, New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, or any other time of the year, getting engaged to be married is a time of hope and excitement. If you have decided that you want to sign a prenuptial agreement with your future spouse before tying the knot, you may be unsure of how to bring up the conversation. Unfortunately, prenuptial agreements have gotten a bad reputation in the past. Stories about outrageous celebrity marriages which seem doomed to fail are often where many first hear the term. However, prenuptial agreements are a tool which can be valuable to anyone. You do not need to be rich or a celebrity to benefit from a prenup.

Benefits of a Prenup

A prenuptial agreement is a legally binding document which establishes the property and financial rights of each spouse in the event of a divorce. For example, a prenup can protect your family-owned business, ensure inheritance rights for children of a previous marriage, prevent one spouse from acquiring the debt of another, protect each spouse’s financial interests, and more.

Today, having a prenuptial agreement is not seen as an oddity. When 40 to 50 percent of marriages end in divorce, it is important to prepare for that possibility. In addition to offering protections in the event of divorce, prenups are also helpful to couples who never get divorced. A marriage is not only a romantic relationship but also a business relationship. A thorough discussion about financial plans and desires while making a prenuptial agreement may help prevent misunderstandings and conflict in the future marriage.

Telling Your Partner

If you have decided that a prenuptial agreement is right for you, the next step is to discuss it with your partner. Some people find it easier to discuss matters related to finances with a mediator or counselor. A couple should always discuss how money will be handled in their marriage before getting married, and prenuptial agreements can be a part of this conversation. Instead of leading with "I want a prenuptial agreement," begin the conversation as a part of a larger discussion about your collective plans and dreams for the future. Another step which may be helpful is sitting down together and researching what a prenuptial agreement actually is. Many people have negative associations with the term because of television and movies. Once a future spouse sees that a prenuptial agreement can be a mutually-beneficial tool, they will be less likely to get upset at the suggestion of using one.

DuPage County Prenuptial Agreements Lawyers

If you would like to speak to an experienced Wheaton family law attorney about creating a prenuptial agreement, call 630-871-1002. We have helped people throughout Illinois establish prenuptial agreements, including clients in DuPage County, Kane County, Will County, and Kendall County.

Sources:

http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-ask-for-prenup-2014-9

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-j-sexton-/how-to-prepare-for-that-prenup-conversation_b_9319618.html