Can I strengthen my marriage with a prenuptial agreement?

Many Americans suffer from a common misconception that prenuptial agreements are only useful when a couple divorces. In reality, a wise couple can use a prenuptial agreement to avoid certain conflicts within marriage and protect each other from pressures outside the relationship. While it is certainly true that most divorces benefit from a prenuptial agreement, any couple can use a one to strengthen the marriage — not tear it down

When one member of a couple comes to the marriage with a great deal of personal debt, he or she puts the other person at great risk. Without proper protection, the individual who does not have a lot of debt may suddenly find themselves on the hook for their partner’s liabilities. A well-crafted prenuptial agreement can create a legal separation between each partner’s assets and liabilities, erecting a hedge of protection against creditors who might pursue marital property to satisfy a debt.

Similarly, if one member of the couple comes to the marriage with far greater assets than the other, it is very likely that family members outside of the relationship may see an opportunity to get rich and attempt to assert influence into the marriage.

In many cases, it’s not the couple who cause problems in the relationship, but members of the extended family who want to manipulate the relationship for their own gain. By using a prenuptial agreement, such a couple can clearly define what assets each member of the marriage may control, removing much of the temptation for outside parties to meddle in the marriage.

These are only some of the ways that prenuptial agreement is an excellent way to strengthen a marriage. This tool is only as useful as intentions of the individuals who use it.If you believe that your upcoming marriage might benefit from a well-crafted prenuptial agreement, don’t hesitate to reach out to an experienced attorney.

Source: Findlaw, “Can Prenuptial Agreements Help You?,” accessed Aug. 22, 2017