What it is: a legal contract entered into before marriage that outlines how certain financial matters will be handled during the marriage, or in the event of divorce. It can address property ownership, debts, business interests, inheritances, and spousal support/alimony/maintenance.
What this means for you: a prenup only works as well as it is safely written: each party should have their own attorney (or at least fully understand, with advice, what they are signing), and assets must be disclosed. Properly done, a prenup brings clarity and protects both spouses.
What couples use them for: protecting a business, keeping pre-marriage property separate, agreeing on maintenance up front, and shielding family inheritances. They’re not “planning to divorce” — they’re deciding the rules before emotions are high.
Watch out for: a prenup signed the day before the wedding, with no independent advice and no disclosure, is the kind that gets thrown out. Timing, transparency, and separate counsel are what make it hold.
