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Should it be compulsory for couples to sign a prenuptial agreement before marriage?

Results so far:

No
73% 826 votes Total: 1127 votes
Yes
27% 301 votes

A prenuptial agreement is an agreement between two people who are about to get married that that protects the wealth of one party from the other, should they divorce. Nothing says romance like a prenuptial agreement. Making prenuptial agreements compulsory is beyond ridiculous and should be left up to each couple what is right for their marriage.

"Honey, I love you, but if you dump me on my sad sorry behind, everything I have will still be mine."

The decision to get married should be well thought out. You should be in love and willing to do anything for your future spouse. This is, afterall, the best time in your relationship. If you do not trust your future spouse with your assets, you should not be getting married to them. Protecting your assets from a future separation is a clear indication that you are not ready to marry your fiance.

"I pushed out your three children, wiped their noses and rears, and had to listen to all the other mothers at the mommy and me classes."

So now you've been married for a number of years and you have become parents together. Let's assume it was dad who wanted and got a prenuptial agreement. Since the beginning of the marriage mom has not worked and therefore not added to her material wealth. Dad has been busy adding money to his 401K and savings accounts while mom has been taking care of their children. If they decide to divorce, where does this leave mom? There is no way to determine mom's contribution to the marriage financially and although she has created and raised a family, because of the prenuptial agreement she will be penniless at a divorce.

"With this paper, I thee dread."

Making prenuptial agreements mandatory may cause disagreements between couples who never even considered a prenuptial agreement before. Couples that do not want to protect their assets from each other would be forced to do just that. What would such an agreement say? Our prenuptial agreement is to have no prenuptial agreement?

Whether a couple decides to sign a prenuptial agreement before marriage or not, leaving the decision the choice of the couple is the only way it should be. We live in a free country, not a dictatorship and we have the right to leave our assets at the altar.

Learn more about this author, Melissa Nykorchuk.
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Below are the top articles rated and ranked by Helium members on:

Should it be compulsory for couples to sign a prenuptial agreement before marriage?

No
  • 1 of 52

    by Hal Lillywhite

    Instead of preparing for divorce, why not encourage people to prepare to stay happily married? Indeed some ministers already

    read more

  • 2 of 52

    by Carlos Soriano

    Prenuptial agreement has failure of marriage written all over it. Now, the unity of a couple in holy matrimony is not sacred

    read more

Yes
  • 1 of 27

    by C.K. Matthews

    The Failure of Marriage: Can Prenuptial Agreements Save a Marriage?

    Many factors play a role in the ruin of a marriage

    read more

  • 2 of 27

    by Brigid Bishop

    Stipulating that a Prenuptial Agreement is necessary prior to any and all couples marrying is an excellent idea. Any and

    read more

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