Our team at the office of Robert G. Spaugh, Attorney at Law understands that no engaged couple wants to think about the possibility that their marriage might not work out in the end, but we believe it is wise to consider it anyway. In our experience, making a prenuptial agreement has no effect on the likelihood of a couple getting divorced later, but it does make the separation process significantly easier for those who do. In this article, we will go over a few reasons why you should consider getting a prenuptial agreement.
- Maintain Financial Independence- One reason to get a prenuptial agreement is to maintain some financial independence from your spouse. This is especially useful for couples in which one partner is significantly wealthier than the other, as it helps ensure that the marriage is not financially motivated, and for couples in which one partner owns a business, as it prevents a possible divorce from affecting the business’ finances.
- Protect Family Heirlooms- Another reason to get a prenuptial agreement is to keep family property, such as heirlooms or real estate, in the family in the event of a divorce. Without a prenup, your partner may be able to claim possession of these kinds of heirlooms as part of the division of the marital assets.
- Avoid Protracted Divorce Proceedings- A third reason to get a prenuptial agreement is to avoid long, drawn-out divorce proceedings should you decide to separate later. Having an agreement about how divide your assets already in place will help streamline the proceedings considerably, which will help keep things civil and calm.