When we talk about prenuptial agreements we usually think of the wealthy and famous. 
However, they can be really helpful to ordinary people.
Any couple who brings personal or business assets to the marriage can benefit from a prenup. The most basic of these contracts lists an inventory of premarital assets that in the event of a divorce will remain the property of their original owner.
Prenups are good because they preserve the expectations of the parties and prevent surprises in a divorce trial. Prenuptial agreements are usually enforced by the court.
The agreements can also specify that future income from a business or additional assets accrued through inheritance are not to be shared with your spouse should the marriage end.
You can basically do anything you want in a prenup, except you can’t limit child support, and you can’t limit child custody and visitation.
The problem people have is, after they get married, what’s become yours has become co-mingled. People can’t trace after 10 years of marriage what was theirs and what’s joint property.
Other areas prenups can cover are the waiving of spousal support and death benefits.
Prenups are especially helpful for older couples and/or those who already have children. Older couples may want to protect children from a prior marriage or protect the ability of the one with lesser assets to go into a nursing home and not give everything over.
People who have been married before are especially aware of the importance of taking these steps the second time around.
A lot of times, prenuptial agreements have a bad connotation. I see them happening with people who may have been divorced once, and have children and significant assets, and want to make sure their children and family are protected if something happens.
Steven W. Hair, focuses his practice as a divorce attorney, family law attorney in Clearwater, Palm Harbor, and Safety Harbor.
For more information, visit our website at www.FamilyLawClearwater.com
or call (727) 726-0797.