Before you get married, you need to think carefully about how you are going to protect yourself if you get a divorce. This isn’t a popular thought, but it does need to be considered. One way to protect yourself is by having a premarital agreement drawn up for you and your betrothed.
A prenuptial agreement is almost always a good thing, but it might be difficult to discuss this with the person whom you are going to marry. But it’s important that you don’t put this off for too long because your future spouse must have time to consult their own attorney and review the terms of the agreement.
Prenuptial agreements don’t govern only assets. You can also include debts that each person has coming into the marriage so that the other person isn’t saddled with those debts if the marriage ends.
Another thing to consider when you are drafting your prenup is to include terms for any potential inheritance that either spouse may receive. You can even include provisions that address the settlement one spouse will receive for giving up a career to rear the children or maintain the home.
You may wish to include other contingencies in your prenuptial agreement, so make sure to make a list of all of the terms. You can discuss your concerns with an attorney who can help you determine what can legally be included in the agreement and what needs to omitted. Matters involving the amount of child support and which parent will retain physical custody of the children can’t be included in a prenup.
Source: FindLaw, “Pros and Cons: Premarital Agreements (“Prenuptials”),” accessed Aug. 24, 2017
