Why more millennials are using prenups to bolster their marriages

On Behalf of | Sep 9, 2020 | Marital Agreements

You may think of a prenuptial agreement (prenup) as a divorce game plan – hardly the sort of thing you want to think about when you’re planning your wedding. However, more and more millennial couples have been turning to prenups in recent years – and redefining how such agreements can be used.

Here are some of the reasons that millennials are increasingly saying “I do” to the prenup:

Marrying later in life

As a whole, millennials are getting married much later in life than previous generations did. Many millennials are prioritizing their career advancement – and holding off on things like marriage and kids until they’re older. This means that millennials, as a whole, are bringing more assets into their marriages than previous generations did – including retirement accounts, real estate and investments. They view a prenuptial agreement as a practical way to protect these assets.

Debt protection

In addition, millennials are facing more debt than any previous generation. Americans are currently facing a whopping $1.3 trillion in student loan debt. Credit card debt among this group is also high. Creating a prenup is a way to protect your spouse from inheriting your debt when you marry.

Business mindset

Millennials tend to have a less romantic mindset toward marriage. More than any previous generation, millennials are children of divorce. They may not expect their marriage to last forever. In addition, in the era of dating apps, many millennials find their life partner simply by swiping right – rather than by the fairytale-style chance meeting depicted in the movies.

Preventing problems down the road

While it may not seem very romantic, treating your marital contract like a business contract could make sound financial sense. Money is the #1 thing that couples argue about, and it’s also a common cause of divorce. Therefore, laying down some ground rules about how you want your finances handled in your marriage could actually serve to strengthen your relationship with your partner.