Getting married is exciting! You may be dreaming about your upcoming festivities, or planning your new life with children (or without them), feeling as happy as can be. So we completely understand why discussing a pre-nuptial agreement with your main squeeze might seem a bit uncomfortable. The truth is, a pre-nup is an excellent way to safeguard your future and your spouse’s, and deciding to sign one can only help protect you.
How does a pre-nuptial agreement help?
At the heart of it, a pre-nuptial agreement is an equity agreement: it puts down in writing how you and your partner plan to share the responsibility of running a household. What’s important to remember is that you’re not being cynical or morbid when you request a pre-nup, or assuming the worst will happen before you even get married. What’s you’re doing is being honest with your partner about the sacrifices each of you will need to make to ensure that your marriage is fair AND loving.
You can use a pre-nuptial agreement to ensure:
* That any children either of you bring into your new marriage will receive their inheritance
* That any family heirlooms either of you possess will stay within the family
* That your property ends up where it’s supposed to in the event of a divorce or a death
* That you and your partner contribute to the household equally
* That any businesses you or your partner owned before marrying are not divided in the event of a death or divorce
* That neither you nor your spouse are responsible for the debts you brought to the marriage
These are just some examples of how a pre-nuptial agreement can help you, but of course there are many others.
What we want our clients in Nashville to know, more than anything else, is that asking your spouse to sign a pre-nup doesn’t make you a “bad” person; in fact, it proves that you’re thinking clearly about the future. Make sure you pick the right time and way to discuss it with your partner, and come see us if you have any questions. We’ve been helping couples in Tennessee for almost 20 years, and we’re always happy to answer any questions you might have.
Karla C. Miller has devoted her entire career to the practice of family law in Tennessee. She attended Auburn University and Nashville School of Law, and upon graduation in 1996, she opened her own law firm and has been assisting families throughout Tennessee since then. Learn more about Karla C. Miller here.
