by Paul Schingle

Created on: July 20, 2010

Compulsory?  Really?  Is that what we've come down to?  It needs to be mandated that two people sign a prenuptial agreement before walking down the aisle?  If that's the attitude, why get married at all?  The whole idea of a prenup is to protect a wealthy person when that person marries a not-so-wealthy person.  And, yes, there are a number of people out there who would marry someone strictly for his/her money.  However, if you're making a life-long commitment, it shouldn't be a requirement to have some sort of financial document standing in the way.  If that's what both parties want, fine.  It's understood why some would want it.  But, required?  That's just plain silly.

What if two people are in love and both are dirt-poor?  What would even be the point of a prenup?  Here are two people with barely two nickels to rub together, and you want them to hire a lawyer to draw up an agreement?  It has to have been an attorney who even came up with the question to begin with.  But, it is understood what the spirit of the question is asking.  And, you know what?  It's still a bad idea.

Okay, so you have two people who love each other.  One has money.  The other doesn't.  In this day and age, it's rather common to have a gold digger who tries to take advantage of a person of means, who may not be all that bright.  It happens every day.  Now, I can understand why the parent of the wealthy one would want a prenup.  He may see through the prospective spouse and assume the worst.  He may be right or not.  Well, he might want to convince his offspring to force the prospective spouse into a prenup.  Good for all of them, if they come to an agreement.  But, to make a prenup a requirement is just another example of the government sticking its nose where it doesn't belong.

People get married for a variety of reasons.  Some motives are pure (plain and simple love).  Some motives are selfish (merely for the money).  Some fall somewhere in between (a person just doesn't want to be lonely).  Whatever the reasons, they are very personal.  Making something compulsory (like signing an agreement-ANY agreement) is tantamount to the government telling the individual, "we know what's best for you-even in very personal matters."  It's just exactly the wrong thing-especially in a country that prides itself on its freedoms.

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