subject: Tips For Prenuptial Agreements You Need To Know [print this page] If you are getting married soon, you may have thought about getting a prenuptial agreement (prenup for short). There are many reasons today why couples will go this route, due to the abundance of marriages that end in divorce. However many people think that prenuptial agreements are only for the rich or famous couples, this could not be further from the truth. Here are some reasons why you may want to get one before tying the knot.
It forces couples to face the fact that marriage is not only a legal union, and a spiritual union, but also a financial union. This point is overlooked many times, and after you are married its too late to change. Some unscrupulous men/women try to hide their financial past as well, such as bankruptcies, foreclosures, or bad investments. If this happens you may be heading down a path of financial ruin and not even know it! It is much better to get all the dirty laundry out on the table before the wedding bells ring, trust me.
There is also the trust issue many women say that if a man doesnt trust them, or vice versa, then the relationship is not a good one to begin with. This may sound romantic and has an ounce of truth as well, but if you arent aware of each others finances there may be distrust in the relationship about finances down the road. Besides, if you trust someone enough to marry them you should be able to sign an agreement in full faith that guarantees nobody will be taken advantage of in the case of a divorce. Even a prenuptial agreement cant absolutely guarantee this, but its certainly a great first step, right?
Get a good lawyer this advice is necessary no matter what the circumstances are, but in this case many will say any lawyer will do since its not a big deal. Dont count on your uncle Charlie to write your prenup if he hasnt ever written one before, especially if he doesnt do any type of family law. Worse yet, if hes not even a lawyer! Get a specialist in these matters, one who really knows your states laws and can ask the right questions before putting the legal document together for you to sign. It doesnt cost that much, maybe a few hundred dollars depending on the attorney, but its well worth it for your peace of mind before tying the knot.
