Prenuptial agreement is made by a couple before they marry, and it concerns the ownership of their respective assets should the marriage fail. Couples who bring personal or business assets to the marriage can benefit from a prenup. It is not one of the things that come to mind when you are about to marry, but given that the divorce rate over the last few decades has, is around 50 percent, a marriage could end within just a few years. For this reason, couples may want to consider finding some peace of mind in a prenuptial agreement before marriage.
States have different rules for prenups. Washington requires prenuptial agreements to be in writing, witnessed, acknowledged and certified in the same manner as deeds to real estate are required to be. Prenups can specify future income accrued through a business or inheritance, except you may not limit child support or child custody and visitation. An agreement will be upheld even if it operates to the benefit of the wealthier spouse, provided it is not so one-sided as to be unfair to the poorer spouse.
Any couple about to marry may want to establish the ground rules for property and asset division later. It is best to draft the agreement with an attorney and a financial planner if the issues are mainly financial. To enforce one, it is highly advisable to consult a family lawyer.