After you have figured out the necessary financial arrangements, take a look at the nonmonetary responsibilities that need consideration. Knowing what is expected when you go into the marriage can not only help in case of separation but also provide an understanding about what each partner expects of the other throughout the union. Keep in mind that there are many personal agreements that will not hold up in a court of law, so limit specifications to those listed here.
Work
The American Bar Association states that agreements concerning your employment are acceptable to include in a prenuptial agreement. Because you can be at any point in your career when you sign, it is important to look forward and make decisions about what you expect to happen in your future professional life. There are several questions you and your spouse should discuss:
- Are there any careers you are opposed to your spouse pursuing? This can be for a variety of reasons, from moral or safety concerns to financial restrictions.
- Are you or your spouse planning to change careers in the future?
- How do you feel about retirement? Are you hoping to retire early or do you desire to work as long as possible?
- What will the expectations be if one of you loses your job? How will the period of unemployment be handled?
Another aspect of your professional life that needs discussing is what will happen after you have children, if you do not have them already. Will one of you quit work to raise your family? How much maternity or paternity leave are you comfortable taking?
Residence
You and your fiancé should also discuss opinions concerning relocation. This could be due to employment or other reasons, but it is important to make your feelings known and documented before the wedding day. It is also necessary to discuss places you each feel comfortable moving to and those locations you prefer to avoid.
Education
An article in U.S. News claimed that the average college graduate carries $28,077 in student debt and graduate student loans generally exceed $57,000. Even if you and your spouse are done with school, you will likely have lingering payments that need to be made. Before signing the dotted line, discuss who will be responsible for current student debt and what will be acceptable if either of you return to school in the future.
After discussing these decisions with your fiancé, you will be prepared to take the information to an experienced attorney. He or she may help you create a custom prenuptial agreement so that your individual desires will be represented and protected during any court case.