Would You Sign A Prenuptial Agreement Before Your Wedding?

[Lovely2CU]

In the light of Sir Paul McCartney and his wife Heather Mills McCartney divorce.

Some people feel that you are doing yourself a financial favor by making provisions to protect your possessions that you have acquired before the marriage, but others look at it as a slap in the face and a sure fire way to kill a new romance. How do you feel about them?

Would you sign one before your wedding?

 

[helenabear]

no

 

[NY Disney fan]

Edit: yes

 

[poohandwendy]

No, never.

I would not enter into a marriage with the notion of 'what if we divorce?'.

I understand and respect that others feel differently about it, though.

 

[MosMom]

I think it depends on your finances. Paul McCartney thought he was in love. Heather Mills thought she hit the jackpot. He can't control what she does and if she wants to divorce him and take him for everything he's got, the only way to protect himself is a prenup.

The idea of planning for divorce seems silly but there are some nasty people in this world and unfortunately, you have to protect your assets.

 

[Malificient Tater]

in that case yes. If you have lived a full life and have things and other children, you need to protect what is yours. It is justs a good practice.

I did not, but married and had nothing, so it did not matter.

 

[Art Vandalay]

If I ever get married again, they'd have to sign one. My assets are for my daughter's college education. Period. If they can't understand that, well then they can't understand me enough to marry me

 

[BillSears]

Sure I would. Why would you not be willing to?

I'm not in a position where I sould need to protect my assests but if the Lady I married had a lot of wealth prior to our marriage I'd be happy to sign a pre nup to make her feel secure in knowing I wasn't marrying her for her money. Her money is her money and I wouldn't feel like I deserve to take what she earned before we were married. Now assests aquired during a marriage should be split but pre-nups are for assests aquired before you married.

 

[punkin]

It depends. If we were older and had children from previous marriages, then yes. I married DH right out of college with nothing but debts. I would never have signed one in such a circumstance.

 

[mickeyboat]

I didn't when we got married. I was 21 and had nothing.

If I did it again, I just might. I would consider it more protecting my kids than anything else. Heck, I try to plan for the possibilty of divorce now (credit in my own name, cash socked away, knowing my financial situation, etc.) even though we have been happily married for 15 years.

Denae

 

[RUDisney]

A woman with whom I used to work was getting married and 2 days before her wedding came in very upset. She said her fiance had told her that she had to sign a prenup on the way to their rehearsal or they wouldn't be getting married. He didn't want to risk losing his house to her in a divorce later. (He was a little over 40 and had just bought a house for $32,000 that he didn't consider a fixer-upper.... yes, you read that number right.)

She asked me what would I do. I told her that some of my DH's relatives come from big $$$$. They didn't sign prenups before their weddings. They had faith in their decisions for a lifetime partner and didn't want this getting in the way of their happiness. If they didn't sign anything, why would poor people sign a prenup.

She was insulted that I called them poor. I told her that I'd place myself in that category, too, compared to some of my DH's family. Everything my DH and I have we earned together.

They lasted longer than anyone would have bet. They made it through 2 years. Everyone was giving them 6 months at best.

 

[Sandy V.]

It would depend on the situation.

I'm happily married almost 25 years now so it isn't an issue. But if I were to be widowed and decide at some future point in time to remarry, I would probably insist on a prenuptial agreement to protect my assets.

I think that prenuptial agreements are far more important for marriages when the bride and groom are older, rather than younger. There are more financial interests at stake most of the time.

 

[meandtheguys2]

Nope. I do not enter into marriage, planning for my divorce. When I got my engagement ring, a gf's first statement was that it was my divorce settlement on my finger. Ugh.

 

[poohandwendy]

Why would you not be willing to

For me, I wouldn't marry someone who felt 'mine is mine, yours is yours' and 'if we split' etc. It's just not how I see making the commitment of marriage.

I would rather just live together, if the relationship was like that.

 

[Toby'sFriend]

The only time I agree with them is for items like a family farm or estate that has been in a particular family for generations.

I've seen a couple of families pretty much lose their farms to Dad's second wife and then her kids.

For money - nope.

 

[Cool-Beans]

No way. Who plans the divorce before they get married?! If you feel the need to plan the divorce, just don't bother getting married.

 

[NMAmy]

Sure, I'd sign one. With my first marriage, I thought divorce would never happen to me. Fifteen years later I got a big surprise. Things happen. People change.

So, now I hope for the best and prepare for the worst. DH and I didn't sign one when we married but I would have if he'd asked me to with no hard feelings.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Other....

I would sign if there are prior children involved. I would want them protected from either side.

 

[Va-bear]

Sure I would! I am not marrying the person for their money.

I dont think being proactive about choices means you are "planning" to get divorced - I dont think many marry w/ the 'plans' to divorce. BUT, sadly, things go wrong sometimes.

 

[RSoxFan]

I would. My aunt is married to a very nice man who came from a lot of money. His dad was a big time lawyer. The dad was married for the second time to a younger woman who had kids of her own. Well, the dad and his wife died in an accident a few years ago. Not only was there no pre-nup, there was no will. Somehow, it was decided that the wife had died after the husband. That means everything went to her when the husband died, and then to HER kids when she died. My uncle and his siblings lost everything their father had worked for. Their step-siblings have the house, the house in Florida, and all the money.