While most people do not plan to divorce before they even marry, it could be prudent to consider this possibility. Through a prenuptial agreement, one can protect his or her post-divorce interests before getting married. Creating this type of document does not mean that a California spouse assumes that a divorce is inevitable, but it simply means that one wants to reduce the chance of conflict and financial loss in the future.
Benefits of a prenuptial agreement
A prenup can provide protection and benefits for a spouse, regardless of income or wealth. Each person will have specific reasons unique to his or her individual situation that determine why a prenuptial agreement is useful, but some of the most important reasons to consider this type of contract include the following:
- It protects individually owned assets from before the marriage.
- It can protect earnings and sources of income from property owned before marriage.
- It allows a spouse to protect his or her retirement assets.
- It provides protection for inherited assets that one spouse receives during marriage.
- It allows spouses to outline specifics regarding alimony after a potential divorce.
While a spouse may never need the prenup, having this document may provide a sense of security for one preparing to walk down the aisle.
What should be in a prenup?
Each prenup will be specific to the individual needs of the California couple and details of their specific situation. It will be beneficial to speak about the terms of a prenup with an experienced family law attorney. A lawyer can explain how this type of contract allows one to protect his or her post-divorce interests.