Before you walk down the aisle, you need to determine whether a prenuptial agreement can benefit you or not. While you might think that the answer is that it can’t, you might be shocked to learn that you can reap great benefits even if you don’t have considerable assets going into the marriage.
There are some specific points that we need you to think about if you are considering a prenup. Here are a few to get you started:
- Prenuptial agreements protect both parties because they must be balanced when they are created. Agreements that favor one spouse over the other will likely be tossed out by the court.
- You have to include a full disclosure of assets in the prenuptial agreement. Your future spouse must have an accurate representation of what you have so they can know if the terms are appropriate.
- Debts can be covered in the prenup, so each spouse can avoid having to pay for bills the other person accumulated before marriage. Student loans are a common inclusion for this purpose.
- Child support and custody can’t be included in the document. These must be decided when necessary and those decisions must be based on what is in the child’s best interests.
- The prenuptial agreement must be presented well in advance of the wedding. Both parties need time to consider the terms and to have their own attorney check the document.
We know that some people think that there is a certain “ick” factor associated with premarital agreements. Don’t let this deter you from doing what is best for you and your marriage.