The New Year brings about a great deal of promise and excitement. Many believe that they have a clean slate and unlimited opportunities to make this year the best ever. These notions could be the reasons behind the many marriage proposals that come about as the calendar turns to 2014.
After the bliss and surprise ends, couples begin the (sometimes arduous) process of planning for the big day. Aside from choosing the venue for the ceremony, colors for invitations and the wedding party, talk of prenuptial agreements may be included. For those who may not know about them, prenuptial agreements (also known as a prenup) are contracts that couples enter into before tying the knot that specifies how assets and property may be divided in the event of a divorce.
Prenups are likely best known for how celebrities use them to divide marital property from separate property without the need for litigation in family court. They also are known for sparking emotionally charged arguments about love and commitment in the face of uncertainty. Despite what can go wrong in a relationship, discussions about prenups can be helpful in learning about a person’s values regarding spending and debt management.
Newly engaged couples may have differing views on prenups based on what they know about celebrity prenuptial agreements (e.g. Khloe Kardashian’s prenup with Lamar Odom). While provisions regarding weight limits and fidelity penalties may be far-fetched, it is worth learning about what is important for each person as they enter a new life together.
If you have additional questions about prenuptial agreements, an experienced family law attorney can help.
Source: HuffingtonPost.com, “Why I’m getting a prenup…and you should too,” December 26, 2013
