Having the Prenuptial Agreement Discussion with Your Fiancée

 Posted on August 21, 2014 in Divorce

As unromantic as it may sound, one of the many to-do's on an engaged couple's wedding planning list is drawing up a prenuptial agreement. There are several misconceptions about prenups. In fact, the thought of one leaves many thinking that a lack of trust or commitment exists between the couple. However, a prenuptial agreement can actually have the opposite effect as it encourages open and honest communication between the couple in regards to their hopes and expectations for the future. If an issue needs to be addressed, a prenup allows the couple to work together to solve it long before the issue becomes prevalent several years into the marriage.

Another misconception is that prenuptial agreements are only for rich or famous people. While this may have been true at one time, an increasing number of people are creating prenups today. A prenuptial agreement can be especially helpful for couples who are getting married for the second or third time and who have children from prior marriages. A prenup establishes which assets belong to each party prior to the marriage, and thus ensures that those assets will be available in the future for any children involved.

If you are considering bringing up the subject of a prenuptial agreement, you may feel a bit overwhelmed. However, there are steps you can take to help the planning go smoothly. First, it is a good idea to bring up the topic in the early stages of your engagement, and when you and your fiancée are planning your futures together. If you hit your fiancée with the news that you want to draw up prenup just weeks before the wedding, this can cause all kinds of stress and emotions and may leave your fiancée feeling as if he or she is being blind-sided.

Next, be honest about why you feel the document is important. If there are issues from your past, such as prior divorces or divorces in your family, this is a good opportunity to explain these feeling to your future spouse. Finally, it is important to plan the document together and for each of you to hire your own lawyer to look it over. Deciding on the terms together allows you both to really understand what the other is expecting from the marriage.

Drafting a prenuptial agreement is good practice for listening to your partner's concerns and needs as well as having to compromise in some areas—all of which are good skills to bring into a marriage.

If you are planning a wedding, and have had the prenuptial agreement discussion with your fiancée, the next step is contacting an experienced DuPage County family law attorney. The attorneys at Stock, Carlson & Asso. LLC can help you draft a prenuptial agreement to fit your needs and the needs of your fiancée. Call 630-665-2500 today.