Prenuptial agreements can be a lifesaver when things don’t go as planned in a marriage. They can even help create a stronger marriage that goes the distance by relieving the relationship of many areas of stress. However, these agreements still hold bad social stigma in some circles, and broaching the subject with your partner may be easier said than done.
Understanding some steps to create a helpful dialogue can ensure that both you and your partner get what you need, while acknowledging the difficulty of creating a prenuptial agreement.
If you want prenuptial agreement, you should not wait to bring it up. Not only do you need to reach the agreement before the marriage takes place, but the issue may require a few separate conversations, and your partner may need time to get on board with the idea. You don’t want to run out of time to keep yourself and your partner safe.
Of course, your prenuptial agreement should benefit both parties (in fact, a prenuptial agreement that is unfairly weighted may be deemed invalid by a judge). Make sure that you understand all of your partner’s concerns and desires as you create your agreement, and be honest about what you want and need out of it as well. Creating your agreement can be an excellent exercise to help you weather more serious conflicts later on in the marriage.
No matter what the nature of your prenuptial agreement is, it is crucial to create is with proper legal counsel. if your agreement does not meet certain legal standards, it may be unenforceable altogether. With proper legal guidance, you can ensure that your rights and your partner’s rights remain protected as you venture into an exciting new season of life together.
Source: Entrepreneur, “How to Ask Your Partner for a Prenup,” Nadia Goodman, accessed March 31, 2017