Prenuptial agreements sometimes get a bad rap among Florida couples engaged in wedding planning. Some individuals seem to believe that they shouldn't need to sign a prenuptial agreement because they know each other so well. The fact of the matter, however, is that a prenuptial agreement can provide protections to both partners in a marriage regardless of how well they know each other. Negotiating a prenup can also provide the couple one more opportunity to thoroughly discuss many of the common stressors in a marriage to make sure that they are on the same page now.
A Florida prenuptial agreement should be discussed in advance
Many Florida couples are hesitant to bring up the topic of prenuptial agreements with each other. For some, the mere suggestion of signing a prenuptial agreement makes them think that the other person doesn't trust them. Many times, though, this simply isn't the case. Negotiating a prenuptial agreement can provide couples with the perfect opportunity to discuss many of the most important issues that will come up in a marriage-which is often something people don't discuss until it's too late.
A prenuptial agreement can protect Florida couples
Prenuptial agreements can often seem difficult for Florida couples to discuss, but the truth of the matter is that such documents can prove valuable for both partners who are considering marriage. For many couples, negotiating the details of a prenuptial agreement may be the first time they've even considered marital concepts such as joint property and ownership. Discussing the details of a prenuptial agreement can encourage couples to consider various aspects of a marriage that they may not have yet thought about-things that are important to discover about potential spouses before taking the proverbial plunge into matrimony.
NASCAR's Danica Patrick to divorce, prenuptial agreement in place
Many Florida residents are reluctant to discuss the topic of prenuptial agreements before entering into the institution of marriage, but the fact is that prenups can provide valuable protection for both future spouses. These contracts can lay out the ground rules for both parties and make sure that each is on the same page when it comes to many of the most important issues that often become points of contention in marriages. Famed NASCAR driver Danica Patrick and her husband, who recently announced they are divorcing, may well be grateful that they entered into a prenuptial agreement before they tied the knot in 2005.
A Florida prenuptial agreement can include lifestyle clauses
Florida couples who are considering marriage sometimes also think about whether they need to sign a prenuptial agreement in order to make sure that both spouses are protected financially. Some might be surprised to learn that a prenuptial agreement can be drafted to include a wide variety of issues, not all of which must be economic in nature. Some couples choose to address lifestyle issues that will govern behavior during the marriage in prenuptial agreements.
A Florida prenuptial agreement is not always ironclad
Many Florida residents may consider prenuptial agreements to be unbreakable once they are signed. The truth is that a prenuptial agreement is much like any other such contract: sometimes they actually can be broken. Whether that will be possible or not depends upon several different factors.
A prenuptial agreement can help ease financial fights
Finances are one of the most commonly-given reasons for couples to go from disagreeing about something to arguing over it. A survey conducted by the American Institute of Certified Public Accounts found that 27 percent of married or cohabitating couples placed finances at the top of their list for reasons to argue, ahead of arguing over work, friends, chores or the kids. This is one reason that Florida couples may want to discuss signing a prenuptial agreement before getting married. If nothing else, it typically necessitates an in-depth discussion of crucial items--like finances--that can lead to later disharmony in a marriage.
Couples marrying later in life benefit from a prenuptial agreement
When Fort Lauderdale residents think of couples opting for a prenuptial agreement, celebrities and young, well-to-do couples likely come to mind. However, a prenuptial agreement is a smart move for any couple that holds significant assets prior to marriage, which may be particularly relevant for Florida couples marrying later in life.
Prenuptial agreement could be essential in Zuckerberg's marriage
Mark Zuckerberg, the face of and brains behind Facebook, tied the knot only one day after the social networking site's stock exchange initial public offering. With the value of Facebook and its stock so widely known, many Florida residents may be wondering if Zuckerberg sought a prenuptial agreement with his new wife in order to protect his pre-marriage assets. While it is not explicitly said whether or not a prenuptial agreement was put in place, it is often the case for wealthy individuals to do so before getting hitched.
Unwed couples show increased interest in cohabitation agreements
In Florida and other states across the country, there has been a noticeable increase in the number of couples putting off marriage until later in life, or not marrying at all, but still living together just as if they were married and raising a family. Consistent with this phenomenon, the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers has seen a rise in the number of cohabitation agreements between unmarried couples who are living together. This type of agreement is essentially a prenuptial agreement without the formality of a marriage factoring into the equation. The contracts account for things like protecting assets as well as setting up systems for child custody and support should the couple break up after having a child.
