Beyoncé has a maiden contract, but does she need it if she’s not a millionaire?

A prenuptial agreement might seem like something only high profile people like Jeff Bezos — with his $138 billion fortune he wants to protect — in fact.

But prenuptial contracts — contracts entered into before marriage that detail how assets will be divided in the event of a divorce — can be a good idea for anyone intending to get married, according to the verge. lawyers And Marriage counselors. It has been in regular use since 1983, when a group of lawyers and law professors drafted the bill Uniform Prenuptial Agreement Acta set of rules regulating prenuptial situations that have since been adopted by 28 US states.

Modern poll It showed that the percentage of couples who had previously been married increased from 3% in 2010 to 15% in 2022. nearly 40% of married or engaged people between the ages of 18 and 34 have signed prenuptial agreements, while only 13% of couples between the ages of 45 and 54 have done so.

as a law professor who specializes in family law, I teach my students what prenuptial clauses are and how to make sure they stand up in court. Me too write about What happens to property when spouses separate, especially unique forms of property such as Family companies or Trust funds.

Shield from unwanted debt

But prenuptial agreements can be about more than just what you own, they can also be about what you owe.

Millennials have piled on More debt Compared to previous generations, premarital statuses can help millennial couples overcome some concerns about debt in marriage. They can help couples answer questions about joint debts incurred during the marriage and who will pay what if the marriage ends. For example, couples can agree at the prenuptial stage on an allotment Student loan debt to the person who took the loan.

They can also choose to protect one person from another Medical debtEspecially if they know big medical bills are on the horizon. Prenups can insulate one spouse from potential debt and financial risks from their spouse Partner business.

Shield of state laws

Couples may also be attracted to prenuptial agreements because these agreements allow them to make arrangements that, if properly executed, take precedence over state laws.

When you get a divorce, you can either follow the terms in the prenuptial or the terms provided by state law and be at the mercy of the divorce court’s discretion as to who should get what.

State rules that generally divide all assets and debts equally were initially created for divorced couples with traditional gender and gender family patterns. For example, mothers who stay at home and raise children, working fathers who work full time, and assets such as a home, life insurance, and a pension.

Younger couples are more likely to get their lives in order families a lot differently. Both spouses work generally. Expectations about who is responsible for raising children are more versatile. Millennial and Gen Z workers are frequently present self-employed or independent contractors, with less income security and fewer benefits such as employer-provided pensions or health and life insurance.

Prenups are a useful way to address these emerging work-life arrangements. For example, a spouse could choose to keep their income or retirement benefits as separate property, and not divide them upon divorce.

New ways to formulate a prenup

New platforms like Hi prinope – “Shark Tank” Success Story – Can be beneficial for younger couples. The company aims to make the prenuptial process more accessible and affordable – think turbo tax but for prenuptials. Online platforms such as Rocket Lawyer or Legal Templates, which provide outlines for all kinds of legal documents, are also available Prenuptial template.

These platforms provide state-specific documents and explain the process, guiding customers through things like: Financial disclosure rules This is important if a prenuptial questioning ends up in court.

valuable conversation

Prenuptial parties make the news because of celebrity agreements and juicy rulings, such as fidelity clauses or Sobriety requirements. However, for most couples, these elements are less important. Many people draft prenuptial agreements to feel financially secure and to know what will happen if they divorce.

One of the most important benefits of prenuptials is that they get couples talking about their financial lives and what merging – or separating – finances as part of marriage might look like. Considering conflicts over money is one of the The biggest reason for divorcePrenuptial talks may be the best kind of wedding planning you can do.