Should you sign a prenuptial agreement?

There are many benefits to prenuptial agreements, such as protecting yourself and your spouse from each other’s debts or planning for the possibility of a divorce. However, before you sign a prenuptial agreement, you need to make sure you understand what you’re signing. You don’t want to find yourself in a position where you’ve signed a document that isn’t in your best interests.

Before you sign a prenuptial agreement, there are a few things you should do:

• Get to know your state laws and how they impact the agreement
• Talk to your own attorney, not one you share with your spouse, about the prenuptial agreement
• Talk to your spouse about why they want a prenuptial agreement and discuss what the benefits are in your situation

Prenuptial agreements can be great for people in all kinds of situations, whether you’re wealthy, don’t have many assets or sit somewhere in the middle. A prenuptial agreement helps you and your spouse go over your finances together and gives you an opportunity to talk about what you expect if your marriage comes to an end.

Is it essential to talk to an attorney about a prenuptial agreement?

It isn’t necessarily a legal requirement, but it’s a very good idea to consult with your attorney before signing a prenuptial agreement. If you don’t, you may sign an agreement that isn’t in your best interests or one that isn’t protecting you as well as it should. Our site has more on what to consider if you’re presented with a prenuptial agreement. It’s smart not to sign until you have a good opportunity to go over the agreement you’re making, because this is a binding contract.