In order for a prenuptial agreement to be recognized by a court, both sides should have their own independent lawyers and the agreement should be fair, not one-sided. A solid prenuptial agreement, signed before a wedding, can cover everything from household spending to disposition of assets in case of death or divorce.
Of course, asking your future spouse to sign a prenuptial agreement isn’t the most romantic topic of conversation for a couple making wedding plans. One tactic is to tell your fiancée that you’re creating an entire estate plan–which you should be doing anyway. That estate plan might include a prenup along with a new will, life insurance, trusts, etc.
Another approach is to tell your fiancée that you have an advisor, such as an accountant or a financial planner, who insists that you have a prenuptial agreement in place before you get married. Blame anyone you want–but just make sure you get it done.
