Prenuptial agreements once carried a significant amount of stigma. Many people viewed them as a sign that one or both spouses was entering the marriage without the intent to fully commit – planning for divorce, so to speak.
Decades of research about divorce have helped strip away the stigma that once accompanied prenuptial agreements. Divorce doesn’t necessarily occur because either spouse lacked commitment to the relationship. Even the most dedicated spouses can grow apart over time or can experience misconduct that makes them question the value of remaining in a marriage.
Prenuptial agreements are more common than ever, especially among younger couples. The process of establishing a prenuptial agreement might actually strengthen the marital relationship despite what people believed previously.
Partners can clarify their values and expectations
While negotiating a prenuptial agreement, an engaged couple has to have some very difficult conversations. They may talk about everything from how many children they want to have to what amount of support they intend to provide their aging parents if their health fails.
Couples who have gone through the work of negotiating a prenuptial agreement often enter the marriage with a better understanding of what they expect from each other during the marriage. They know what their spouse needs from them and what their spouse intends to contribute to the household.
Unmet expectations can foster resentment that eventually result in divorce. The process of clearly communicating wishes, values and expectations can set spouses up for long-term happiness and success.
Couples can demystify the divorce process
Many of the terms included in a prenuptial agreement discuss what happens in the event of a divorce, not what occurs during the marriage. Couples can then turn to the document to guide them as they establish support arrangements or divide their property if the marriage fails.
Divorce seems much less exciting when the exact outcome is already known. Those who understand how they may share their property if they divorce can better evaluate whether divorce could improve their circumstances or worsen them.
Proposing a prenuptial agreement to a fiancé does not indicate a lack of commitment to or faith in one’s relationship. It is a pragmatic decision that can help protect both spouses if circumstances change. In many cases, the act of negotiating the agreement could strengthen a marital relationship.