The divorce property division process is often complicated and rife with potential problems. By the time you reach the point of a divorce, there will be ill feelings and hardened beliefs about what a spouse believes they deserve and what property is worth. However, there is a way to largely remove this litigation minefield from the divorce process in advance, and help strengthen your relationship in the process: prenuptial agreements.
Prenuptial agreements?
Prenuptial agreements, often called “prenups,” are legal documents signed before a marriage that decide how certain issues will be decided in the event of a divorce. In other words, you sit down with your soon-to-be life partner, and outline what you expect from your marriage, and if it does not work out, how your married lives will become a solo again.
What if we never plan on getting a divorce?
As the French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupery once said, “A goal without a plan is just a wish.” Divorce in America is common. Given the odds that you will face a divorce, you should plan for it.
Will bringing this up hurt my relationship?
Unless both partners spoke about prenups before, bringing it up can cause some strife. Naturally, one may feel like there is some distrust or some underlying issue. You must be clear that is not the case.
How can the prenup help?
Remember, the conversation needed to craft a prenup are the conversations you should be having anyway. What do you both want from the marriage and your future lives together? Talking through these big questions and answers ensure both spouses are on the same page with the same goal, or craft ways to make both happy. Though, you may find that your future plans do not align, which is also good to know now.
What should we do next?
Talk about your future now. If you find that you both want to stay together, then, talk to a Texas, family law attorney about a prenup. For those who are married, a post-nup may help you get back on track too.