How prenuptial agreements can set the stage for successful marriage

On Behalf of | Oct 24, 2024 | Prenuptial Agreements

Prenuptial agreements used to be associated with quite a bit of social stigma. People might have judged those who proposed a marital contract as someone who did not intend to take their vows seriously. However, attitudes about prenuptial agreements have changed drastically over the years.

Younger people, including Millennials and Gen Z, have embraced the idea of prenuptial agreements, with roughly half of them agreeing that such contracts are beneficial. Couples who established clear expectations for divorce proceedings and for marriage may actually find that they enjoy a stronger relationship than those who marry without having those crucial discussions first.

Starting out with shared expectations

With religious marriages and wedding ceremonies becoming less common, premarital counseling has also become more of a niche undertaking. Couples may not have had discussions about important matters, such as whether financial support is appropriate if one spouse leaves their career to raise children or what property might be part of the marital estate.

The process of negotiating terms for a prenuptial agreement can force couples to talk about many of the matters that may have once come up in premarital counseling. From whether they expect to have children to which assets might remain the separate property of either spouse in the event of a divorce, there are many important details that fiancés can discuss when negotiating a prenuptial agreement.

The terms that they set help ensure that they have shared expectations and standards for the marriage. If the relationship does end in divorce, the terms that they have negotiated with each other allow them to divorce gracefully instead of fighting over all of the major decisions for their family.

Having a realistic idea about what divorce might mean can also stave off the so-called seven-year itch where people start fantasizing about regaining their independence after years of marriage. When faced with the blunt reality of a prenuptial agreement, divorce might not seem quite as appealing.

Although it can be anxiety-inducing to bring up the topic of a prenuptial agreement with a fiancé, having a thorough arrangement in place might actually lead to a healthier and more satisfying marriage. Couples who talk about crucial matters before committing to each other can start their marriage off while benefitting from a truly solid, informed foundation.