Valentine’s Day is one of the biggest days of the year for proposals, alongside Christmas, Thanksgiving and a couple other major holidays, with many couples deciding to tie the knot on the 14th and in February generally.
One thing that makes sense for many Florida couples and their counterparts throughout the country to talk about this month in their preparations to walk the aisle is the financial situation of both parties. In may seem a bit unromantic in tandem or as a prerequisite to such a celebration, but a prenuptial agreement is something that many couples should reasonably discuss.
Many couples these days who decide to get married have been around the block before. Some are marrying after they have acquired assets and wealth. A prenup is an ironclad way to assure they protect themselves and their families in the future. No one wants to think about the possibility of a marriage failing before it even gets started, but it is still wise to plan for the unforeseeable future.
Although there are many reasons for divorce, money issues continue to rank extremely high as a catalyst. Harris Interactive conducted a poll in February of last year; a third of the singles who participated said they would request a prenup before taking a marital leap.
The evidence seems to show, and more than anecdotally, that premarital agreements are becoming more socially acceptable and increasing in popularity, especially with younger people. Just saying the word is no longer a deal breaker, which could be due to the current economy as well as the high divorce rate.
And couples should remember this: In deciding to execute a prenuptial agreement, it never needs to be construed as something that is eternally cast in stone. As things evolve and grow in a marriage, so, too, can a preunp change to reflect those adjustments.
Source: Reuters, “When Valentines and prenups go together” Kathleen Kingsbury, Feb. 15, 2012