More than anything, we appear to be a romantic society, and we all like to think that when we get married, it’s going to be for life. No one wants to go into marriage preparing for divorce because people are idealistic. They want to think that their relationship is different, and it’s the one that is going to buck the odds and make it to its 50-year anniversary of wedded bliss. Reality paints a different picture, with a high rate of marriages that end in divorce. Pragmatism is not romantic, but it can save your assets, so a prenup agreement is the wisest and most sensible choice.
Youngsters are more likely to divorce, but can skip the prenup
Generally speaking, young people may not own much if we were to look at their bank statements. They’re freshly out of their parents’ house and out of school, and they haven’t had the time to gain assets or wealth. For two young people of similar economic status, a prenup is not only superfluous, but it’s actually advised against. Why? Because it may cost you more to draw it up than it would to divide your assets in the eventuality of a divorce. A prenup requires time, money and effort and unless one of you is significantly wealthier than the other, it simply isn’t worth it, because there is nothing to protect or fight over.
Older couples on their second marriage have more to lose
When it comes to older couples, however, things are different and signing a prenup is a wise move. Especially if you’ve had a divorce before, you might have been through the wringing machine that is the Family Court, and you would like to avoid that mess again. People on their second marriage are often older and already have children from their first one. If they’re not planning on having more children with the new partner, it makes sense for them to protect their assets and secure their own childrens’ future in case of a divorce or death.
Setting up a prenup may save your relationship, married or not
Financial disparity can put a lot of pressure on a couple, and so can financial problems. Studies have shown that the majority of divorces happen because of economic issues, so setting things straight from the very beginning might be your best bet. This a) makes things clear during your marriage and lifts that weight off your shoulders that your partner might decide to walk away with everything you have at any given moment and b) makes it easier for the two of you to split up amicably, should you decide to get a divorce.
We know that divorce can get messy and most of the time, that’s because of financial disputes. By eliminating the financial aspect, you stand a chance to salvage the relationship and remain on good terms, even if the marriage has run its course.