CELEBRATE YOUR LOVE IN PARADISE

Your new life together starts here, in a place created for romance and fun in the sun. Destination weddings and honeymoons at Sandals and Beaches Resorts are designed to create unforgettable moments in some of the world’s most beautiful locations. Whether you’re dreaming of an adults-only party or a family-friendly celebration, it’s possible to fnd exhilaration, rejuvenation and relaxation, all in the same place. And with a beginning like this, the incredible memories you’ll create together will stay with you for a lifetime. Your honeymoon starts the moment you say, “I do!”

At least one of you has children.

Let’s say one party has kids from a previous marriage. A prenup can help you establish what part of the estate would go to the spouse’s children. It also ensures family members have a financial plan in the case of death. Wills are still necessary, but prenups can establish intent from both parties.

One of you has significantly more debt.

If your partner is repaying hefty student loans or acquires extreme credit card debt during your marriage, you probably don’t want to take on that burden after a split. “In a divorce, judges in many states have immense discretion as to how debt should be distributed among the parties,” says Rodgers. “In certain situations, a judge could choose to attribute some of one spouse’s debt to the other, especially in the case where the other party directly benefited from the result of that [loan or purchase].”

You plan to buy property together.

When purchasing a property together, experts still recommend that you keep your initial investments separate. Say acoupleplanstobuyacondotogether, but one party has saved much more for a down payment. “In a divorce, the money that one party contributed to the down payment, although not equal, would likely be considered as ‘transmuted’ or absorbed into the marital estate and split upon sale of the property,” says Rodgers. A prenup can protect those initial investment amounts.

One or both of you are small business owners or entrepreneurs.

Protecting your investments can be important if you own a closely held family business, a business with your name on it or a business with other people. Imagine that one partner is more relaxed with budgeting and also owns a business. Though the rewards are great, there are risks too. “Without a prenuptial agreement, the conservative spouse may be responsible for some of their partner’s business debt and entitled to some of the business,” explains Rodgers. “The most extreme and complex divorce cases arise when one spouse is a business owner, and the judge deems the other spouse entitled to some of that equity.” In short, it could get very expensive when litigating a divorce.

You want your privacy in the event that your marriage ends.

Nobody wants their personal matters to be leaked to the public, and a prenup can ensure that that won’t happen. Confidentiality clauses are becoming standard in many prenups. They make sure that neither party could disparage the other on social media, television, in any publication (including a memoir) or publicize negative aspects of their marriage or financial lives.

You were engaged for a very short time.

Some couples meet and get married quickly, so a prenup is smart if you don’t know each other that well. Other couples don’t want to talk about it while wedding planning and sign a postnuptial agreement after the marriage is legalized. (By the way, you can get a postnup anytime after you marry.)

One of you doesn’t work or doesn’t plan to work.

If one party will be staying at home to raise a child, for example, the couple can work through an agreement to recognize that individual’s unpaid labor. By agreeing on financial provisions, both parties will have a plan in the event of a divorce.

You believe you choose your destiny.

A prenup provides a sense of peace for couples who simply want to be prepared. “One of the beautiful things about getting a prenup or a postnup is that you and your partner get to decide what happens should you separate, as opposed to the state,” says Dunlap.

Finally, discussing your respective assets and liabilities also promotes communication, a pillar in any healthy relationship. With contractual services available online, there’s little reason not to discuss your financial situation with your partner. Trust us: Sign the prenup before the marriage license.