Security is important in a relationship. It doesn’t matter whether you are still in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship or already married to your significant other. Aside from unconditional love, you should both secure your future especially if you are planning to get married. Of course, no couple who are in love with each other would think of getting divorced later on.
Unfortunately, not all marriages end up happily ever after. In fact, a lot of couples end up hiring divorce lawyers to put an end to their marriage. Divorce has become a normal thing nowadays. This is one reason why it is a good idea to have a pre-nuptial agreement between soon-to-be-wed couples.
Of divorce and prenups
Divorce is the last thing in mind for couples who are crazy in love with each other. That can mean having a prenup is also the last thing in their minds. Perhaps these couples look forward to spending the rest of their lives together and building their own family. They might even be willing to share bank accounts and assets both under their names.
However, we can never tell what can happen in the future. For one thing, almost half of all marriages in the US alone end up in divorce. Of course, no one wants their marriage to end up down the drain after a couple of years. Then again, there is nothing wrong with having a pre-nuptial agreement before a marriage takes place.
Family lawyers can provide advice if you decide to make one. You might already heard about it anyway especially among popular celebrities and well-off couples. Perhaps it is time to break the stigma about prenups – that it is just a waste of time and paper. Who knows, it might be one of the best things you can to secure your future whether your marriage becomes successful
What is a pre-nuptial agreement?
A pre-nuptial agreement is a contract between two parties. In this case, it pertains to each spouse. Basically, it states what will happen to your liabilities and assets in case you do end up in divorce. Aside from divorce, prenup agreements can also work when your spouse dies and you need to secure your future following the unfortunate death.
Family lawyers can provide advice as to what you should include in a pre-nuptial agreement. Having one can be the best protection in case something unfortunate happens later on. Instead of hiring divorce lawyers or spousal support lawyers, a prenup can simplify the entire divorce process in case it does end up that way.
Should you have a prenup?
You should consider first whether a pre-nuptial agreement is a good decision. While it is a good decision in general, it may not necessarily be suitable for all couples. For example, there are some states with specific laws regarding divorce that might already be enough to sustain their needs and won’t consider prenups necessary anymore.
It is up to the couple if they want to have a prenup or not. However, you might want to consider the following so you can decide whether having one is a good decision.
- Either you earn more or depend financially to your spouse
- You are formally divorced, found a new love, and planning to remarry
- You are a business owner and want to secure it in the case of death or divorce
- Your partner has a lot of debts
- You are planning to take care of your children full-time and quit your current job
- You want everything settled (asset and property distribution, bank accounts, etc.) before your death
What to include and not to include in a prenup agreement
By now, you already have an idea of whether having a prenup agreement is the best option for you. You can hire the best divorce lawyers in the event of a divorce. However, it can be a complicated process if you have a lot of things to settle and you don’t seem to agree at some points. That is why it is a good idea to have a prenup agreement to help settle your case.
Among things you can include in your prenup include financial obligations during and after a divorce or a death of a spouse. You should also include alimony and child support, asset and property distribution, and debt settlements.
On the contrary, child custody should not be included because it will mostly be the court’s decision later on. Other irrelevant causes such as your in-law’s welfare and other personal engagements should not be included in the prenup.
It is a must to secure your marriage no matter what happens in the future. In the event of an impending divorce, you should contact only top rated divorce lawyers in Fairfax VA.
