When planning a wedding, it may seem inappropriate to raise the possibility of separation with your spouse. However, this isn’t necessarily true. A prenuptial agreement is essentially an insurance policy that protects the interests of both parties if you do eventually separate. Even if you don’t plan to visit a divorce lawyer anytime soon, here are four reasons to sign a prenup before your wedding day.

4 Benefits of Prenuptial Agreements

1. Avoiding Disputes Over Property

Dividing marital assets one of the most contentious issues in a divorce. Without proper preparation, it often results in protracted litigation and high divorce lawyer fees. A prenup allows you to consider these issues in advance with a cool head and cooperative attitude, ensuring a fair outcome without the stress and uncertainty of taking the matter to court.

2. Reducing the Emotional Strain

Even in the best of circumstances, the divorce process only becomes more difficult as the process moves ahead. Prenups settle many of the most important issues in advance, allowing you both to start building your lives together without any fears of future setbacks.

3. Shielding Each of You From the Other’s Debts

In some states, debts are also considered part of the marital estate, even if they’re only in one spouse’s name. A prenup provides valuable protection if either spouse has significantly more debt than the other, such as student loan or credit card debt.

4. Strengthening the Relationship

It may sound counterintuitive, but negotiating a prenup can actually strengthen your relationship and help avoid some of the issues that may lead to divorce in the first place. Discussing a prenup can be a positive experience in which you lay out your plans for the future, identify areas in which you differ, and work out solutions before you get married.

If you’re planning a wedding, let the family law and divorce lawyers at MacVean, Lewis, Sherwin & McDermott, P.C. help negotiate and draft your prenup. As one of the area’s oldest law firms, their personal injury attorneys and divorce lawyers have provided personal service and positive results to Hudson Valley families since 1885. Visit their website for more on their family law services, follow their Facebook for more legal tips, or call (845) 343-3000 to schedule your free initial consultation with an experienced lawyer.