You’ve never felt this way about anyone before—and you actually managed to lock them down. This is your first marriage and you know they’re the only one for you. But before the wedding bells can chime and you can start the rest of your lives together, you have to ask yourself a very important question: should I sign a prenup?
Of course, you don’t want to think about the d-word or the personal and legal battles that it will entail. And a prenup seems to suggest that you have no faith in the future. But it’s the very opposite!
Communication is the key to any healthy relationship and a prenup is just that: an agreement about the future. At the end of the day, the two of you might decide not to get a prenup, and that’s completely okay. But what’s important is to have a discussion so you can make an informed choice.
You need to talk about your finances.
Who wants to talk about numbers and finances when you could be cuddling and whispering sweet nothings? But finances are very important and getting a prenup will allow you and your partner to disclose all the relevant financial information. You’ll talk about income, debts, assets, inheritances—all extremely important topics that can return to ruin a happy marriage down the line.
You should prepare when you’re happy.
The best way to ensure a fair prenup is to do it when you’re happy. You and your partner are in love and you only want the best for each other. And hard as it might be to hear, this might not always be true. You don’t want to be negotiating when you’re out for blood. Let your best selves plan for the future now, rather than leaving it in the hands of your potentially wrathful future-selves.
There’s no more uncertainty.
With a prenup, you’ll know exactly what happens if worst comes to worst. You don’t want you or your significant other to be staying in a loveless marriage out of fear. With a prenup, there won’t be any sleepless nights debating whether you can afford to leave or what will happen to your partner. All of this will have been planned out well in advance with the help of a lawyer, leaving nothing to chance.
Everything is out in the open.
Odds are, your partner really does love you more than there are stars in the sky—but gold-diggers do exist and it has to happen to someone. A prenup will ensure that your marriage has no hidden agendas and that your marriage starts with complete transparency. Couples can find themselves even closer and more connected after signing on the dotted line.
You don’t have to sign anything you don’t want to
A prenup is completely optional. It simply might not be for you. Or maybe you’ll get one and never look at it again, living happily ever after with your partner. What’s important is that you’ve given your future serious thought. And this means that you and your partner have discussed what the best choice is for both of your futures.
Galbraith Family Law lawyers are trained in Collaborative Practice, and we have been named the top firm by the Barrie Examiner multiple times. Our legal insights have also been featured in the Globe and Mail, as well as Lawyers Weekly.
Click here to contact us, or to schedule a consultation. Or you can call the local office listed at the top of the page.
