Prenuptial agreements have become much more common in recent years. In the past, prenups were exclusive to wealthy couples to protect their finances in the case of a future divorce. There are various explanations given for why prenups have become so popular. Some say it is because couples are getting married later and thus have acquired more wealth before marriage, while others attribute the influx to the rise of female equality in America. Regardless of the reason, many couples view prenups as a necessity, and it is important to understand what should be included in this kind of legal documentation.

What Can Be Included in My Prenup?

• Properties: There are two types of property that exist in a marriage, separate and marital. Property that is considered separate includes everything acquired before the legal marriage. Marital property is that which is gained during the marriage. Prenups can allow you to deem some property separate and some marital before saying “I do.”

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Talking about prenuptial agreements used to be a taboo topic of conversation - if you loved and trusted each other, why were you planning what you would do during a divorce? Nobody can predict the future and in the case that things do end up going south, you want to make sure that your assets are protected. In recent years, prenuptial agreements have been becoming more and more popular as the average age of marriage has been becoming later. If you are wondering whether or not a prenuptial agreement is right for you, consider these reasons for getting one:

1. You Have Been Married Before

One of the most popular reasons why couples consider prenuptial agreements is because one or both of them has been married previously. Whether you did not come out on top in the divorce the first time around or you have spousal obligations from that marriage, a premarital agreement can contain provisions about support obligations or other assets.

2. You Have Children

Going along with a prior marriage, if you have children coming into a marriage, you should seriously consider a prenuptial agreement. Whether the children were from a previous marriage or from a person other than the person you are marrying, the agreement can contain clauses about child support and what will be left to your children if you die.