Prenuptial Agreements 101

You're having a romantic dinner, just the two of you, when the love of your life pops the question. It's the moment you've been waiting for. You don't even need to think about it. You breathlessly blurt out, "Yes, I'll marry you!" But it's not all hearts and roses. After slipping a beautiful engagement ring on your finger, he asks another question, a question you were not expecting at a happy moment like this.

"Honey, will you sign a prenuptial agreement?"

You're caught off guard. Do you:

a. Throw the ring back in his face and tell him you wouldn't marry him if he were the last man on earth?

b. Burst out into tears and ask him why he doesn't trust you? Or

c. Discuss his reasons for wanting a prenuptial agreement and consider the possibility that it could be beneficial to both of you in the long run?

(Go with c.)

But, let's take a look at why a prenup is the best option.

The prenuptial agreement is hardly a new form of legal document. In fact, they have been around in some form or another for thousands of years. The practice of writing a prenuptial agreement before marriage was most commonly used in European and in Far Eastern cultures where royal families have always made provisions for protecting their riches.

Yes, yes, the very thought of a prenup twists your stomach into knots. But, remember: a prenup is only a contract. The pre- in prenup means it's a binding agreement that takes place between prospective spouses before the marriage or "nuptial."

A prenuptial agreement gives both parties the chance to set forth what will happen to income and assets if the marriage ends in separation, divorce, or death. Discussing financial issues is never easy, but talking about money before entering a marriage can save heartache and tension in the long term. Without a prenup, assets could end up in the hands of your spouse's children from a previous marriage instead of your own kids. Or they could go to a lazy mate who contributed very little while you built a business from the ground up or wrote a book that later became a smashing success.

The financial well-being of a marriage can be ensured ahead of time when a prenup is drawn up and approved by both partners. It is definitely worth considering for couples planning to take the next big step with marriage. After all, marriage is as much a financial union as it is a physical and emotional union.

How do you know if a prenup is right for you?

If you fall into any of the following categories, you should at least consider a prenup:

• You have assets such as a home, stock, or retirement funds
• You own all or part of a business
• You may be receiving money from an inheritance
• You have children and/or grandchildren from a previous marriage
• One of you is more financially stable or wealthier than the other
• One of you will be supporting the other's education
• You have loved ones who need to be taken care of (i.e., elderly parents or a mentally or physically challenged sibling)
• You have or are pursuing a degree in a potentially profitable profession, such as law or medicine
• You see a potentially large income increase due to your business taking off, your book making it to the bestseller list, your band recording their first hit, etc.

While the enforcement of prenuptial agreements varies from state to state, five conditions are generally imposed. First, all assets, accounts, liabilities, sources of income, and any other factors likely to create a shift in financial position must, or at the very least should be revealed. Second, each party must be represented by independent legal counsel. Third, generally, the agreement must be fair at the time it is entered into. What this means is that your prospective spouse must have a certain period of time between when he or she is presented with the agreement and when you both will be getting married. It could also mean that if your spouse is from a foreign country, the document must be translated into their native language, or a translator must be brought in to read it to them in the native tongue. In some states, the prenup must also be fair at the time of enforcement. Unfortunately, the courts and a jury often decide what a reasonable person would consider fair. Fourth, the courts may cancel the prenup if enforcing it would impoverish either party and create a risk of seeking public assistance. Finally, you can't ever disclaim child support.

A few more things to keep in mind on the subject of prenuptial agreements:

• Your spouse's will can never be less generous than the conditions of the prenuptial agreement. However, a will can always leave more than the amount agreed upon in the prenup.
• You can include a sunset clause in your prenuptial, which means the agreement will only be valid for a predetermined amount of time. You can decide the prenuptial will expire in ten years, twenty, or at any other time you select. This option allows people the comfort of a prenuptial while not feeling bound by it after the marriage has proved to last.
• While it may seem obvious, make sure the agreement is in writing. Also, have witnesses present when it's signed. The contract should be signed in triplicate. One copy should go to the groom, another to the bride, and a third should be kept with a third party or in a safety deposit box.

So, now that you're armed with a little more information on prenuptials, how will you answer your beloved's second question?