When the word “marriage” begins to become a mainstay in conversations for young Texas couples, the bliss and excitement can often outweigh the serious need to talk about finances, both present and future. The very idea of sharing everything with a person one feels is his or her soulmate could cloud honest truths that can lead to financial and emotional disaster later down the road. Speaking with one’s betrothed about money, assets and the idea of a prenuptial agreement may be a wise choice to helping couples develop a closer bond and preserving the couples’ financial future should a divorce loom on the horizon.
A wealth educator in another state has instituted a program that is spreading across the country. The program offers couples an ice breaker with regard to discussing finances and emotions that are tied to money. This opportunity allows couples a six month to a year-long course that offers worksheets, homework and open discussions to explore the dynamics of money and how it is treated by each intended spouse.
Waiting until the last hour to have these important financial discussions can bring a negative emotional spin on what should be one of the happiest days of one’s life. Financial discussions that take months to work through and ultimately lead to the drafting and signing of an agreeable prenuptial agreement are crucial to having the prenup hold up under scrutiny of a judge. By working together and understanding how finances impact a relationship, engaged couples begin to build a solid financial foundation for their soon-to-be marriage.
A prenuptial agreement does not have to bring all the negative connotations that were associated with the term in decades past. A couple that can hold honest and open discussions regarding their feelings and management of money, and how the financial future for each spouse would look should a divorce occur, are taking the steps to secure a financially responsible and stable future. With each spouse securing their own Texas attorney, drafting and executing to a prenuptial agreement can be a piece of financial cake.
Source: The New York Times, “Getting Married? Forget Sweet Nothings; Let’s Talk About Money“, Paul Sullivan, April 27, 2018