Marriage is a dream for many, a time full of hope for the future. Unfortunately, not a lot of people consider taking the precaution of signing a prenuptial agreement.
It’s exciting getting married to the one you love and want to spend the rest of your life with. Your future is bright and your partnership will be solid. Or will it? While the “idea” of a happily ever after story sounds enticing, the statistics rarely back this myth up. The most frequently seen “marriage gone bad” quote is the one dealing with figures that show about half of all the marriages in the U.S. (and other countries) will terminate in divorce.
While marriage at one time literally meant, “until death do you part,” such is not the case today. Marriage in the 21st century is an interesting blend of factors that make up the marital contract, factors that include the emotional, social and economic aspects of a relationship. It’s a complex mixture and definitely not as straightforward as we’d like it to be. Many couples find out how difficult things get once the marriage starts falling apart and they discover what they assumed at first is not what actually happens economically speaking when divorce is in the air.
They should have signed a prenuptial. While this may be easy to say, many engaged couples find this difficult to do, because they consider a prenuptial to be a self-fulfilling prophecy of a doomed marriage. While it’s true that a prenuptial doesn’t rank right up there as being a romantic thing to do, it could make a world of difference later. In plain English, the benefits of a prenuptial agreement far outweigh its negative aspects.
Many engaged couples argue that signing a prenuptial agreement shows they don’t trust one another. While that may be true, it also shows that a trusting couple with a solid relationship has no fears about dealing with their issues in the form of an agreement. It’s often better to discuss explosive issues about money, property, etc. before getting married, otherwise one or both partners may feel pressured. Resolving things early actually removes, in advance, any possible glitches during the marriage or in the event of a divorce.
The biggest benefit of signing a prenuptial is that it cuts down the amount of time and money spent in case when there is a divorce proceeding. This isn’t to say that there will be a divorce, it is rather to indicate that it is smart to have contingency plans in place – just in case. No prenuptial may mean a long, protracted divorce battle, and long and protracted usually translates into “expensive.”
If you happen to be considering marriage and have property or wish to protect your personal financial situation, make it a point to contact a skilled prenuptial agreement attorney. Get all your questions answered now, not later when it may be too late. Knowing your rights before something hits the fan is in your own best interest.
Bradley J. Hofland is with Las Vegas Divorce law firm, Hofland, Beasley & Galliher. The law firm focuses on Las Vegas family law, custody, and Las Vegas personal injury. To learn more about
Las Vegas divorce, Las Vegas personal injury, Las Vegas divorce lawyer, Las Vegas family law, Las Vegas family law attorneys, Las Vegas personal injury lawyer, visit Hoflandlaw.com.
