Prenuptial agreements are no longer considered an uncomfortable subject and only for the uber-wealthy.
In fact, they’re being used more and more often by people whose finances are decidedly more modest — especially millennials. Here’s why:
Increased debt
In the past, it was common for couples to get married without much to their names — either in terms of wealth or debt.
Today, that’s often not practical. People in the millennial generation have often acquired significant amounts of student loan debt and credit-card debt by the time they reach independence and start to contemplate marriage.
A prenuptial agreement can be seen as an effective way to ensure that neither spouse gets hit with any debt that isn’t their own if a marriage fails. Millennials aren’t being pessimistic about marriage — they’re merely acknowledging the reality that many marriages fall apart after a few years and that debt can be a factor. Having the insulation of a prenup may even take some of the stress away that might otherwise damage a relationship.
Business ventures
Millennials have also embraced the idea of entrepreneurship with a passion. In some ways, they’ve almost been forced to be creative about their futures because the job market has been so unpredictable for much of their lives.
However, creativity and entrepreneurship come with a price — many millennials have invested significant amounts of time and energy into their business ventures. They don’t want to lose what they have if a marriage doesn’t work out.
Prenuptial agreements can specifically limit the damage that can be done to a business through a divorce by making sure that the business is kept out of the fray. Even if the spouse is involved in the business, a carefully negotiated prenup can provide an exit plan that both halves of the couple can live with — and through which the business can endure.
Safeguarding your financial future against the possibility of a divorce isn’t wrong — it’s simply smart business. If you’re considering a prenuptial agreement before marriage, talk over your options with an attorney as soon as practical.