Sign Of The Times: How Signing On The Dotted Line Can Save A Marriage

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By Mia Bolaris-Forget

Despite the fact that “miraculously” somehow our grandparents and their predecessors often made marriage a lifetime commitment, today, regardless of our fancy fetes and grand getaways, many of us are left feeling that the ideal “get away” would be to get away from our mate.

So, with getting out as an option, so to is dividing the assets, which can get tricky, if not down-right “vicious”. Hence the “need” for protection and the birth of the pre-nup. Well, now you can add another essential “must have” to the list of marital legalities. In today’s world it’s known as a post-nup, and it’s suppose to help save your marriage.

Unlike a pre-nup this detailed document is drawn up after the wedding, in fact, it can be drawn up at any time during your lifetime together. And, while it seems like it’s an outline for imminent divorce, some suggest that it actually accomplishes the opposite.

Their main objective is to help settle money matters (provided there are no serious issues such as gambling, boozing or other issues involved), placing and holding each person accountable for his or her own earnings and expenditures in designated arenas. And, that, more often than not, say attorneys takes the added financial pressure off the other spouse.

Post-nups are frequently used to outline who owns what, establish a household budget and expenses, or remove a business from the table in case of divorce. Couples can also draw up ad post-nup to outline things such as where to spend holidays, how often the couple visits the others parents, friends or siblings, how often guests should be invited over and how many boys or girls nights the spouse is allowed. And, it is often BECAUSE everything is spelled out in black and white that couples avoid arguments since they can’t “argue” a fact once they’ve read it, agreed to it, and signed on the dotted line.

The pre-nup takes three lawyers to draw up, one for each member in the marriage, one they trust and can review the agreement, drawn up by a third and neutral attorney, and make sure it’s in the best interest of both the couple and the individual.

Still, experts suggest getting a second opinion just to make sure the decision and term of the agreement are right for them. Once they’ve dotted their I’s and crossed their T’s they are then free to sign….and that my friends is just another sign of the times.

Long Island Relationship Articles > Sign Of The Times: How Signing On The Dotted Line Can Save A Marriage