Why More Millennials Are Signing Prenups Before Marriage

Setting expectations for the division of assets in the case of a divorce, prenuptial agreements have long been associated with the rich and famous. They also carry the stigma that anyone who signs one doesn’t think their relationship will last. However, more millennials are signing prenups before marriage than other generations. Here’s why.

Intangible Items

In today’s world, physical items and finances aren’t the only things one must consider when going through a divorce. Many couples must also address aspects such as shared pets and even frozen embryos. Scientific advancements such as in vitro fertilization have created the possibility of freezing embryos until the couple is ready to implant them. But in the instance of a divorce, to whom do these embryos belong? Some couples stipulate in their agreements that the embryos be donated to stem-cell research, while other couples agree that someone can only use the embryos with the other party’s consent.

Previous Experiences

A significant reason why many millennials are turning to prenuptial agreements is that they’ve seen just how difficult a divorce without one can be. Many millennials grew up with their parents going through divorces. They’ve seen firsthand how messy things can become when there are no rules in place, and they want to do everything to avoid this. Thus, they sign prenuptial agreements to divide their assets in a transparent, manageable way if their relationships were to end.