[optimiz3]

Separately, as advice to potential couples: get a pre-nup. Resolves any awkward beliefs about money up front. Discloses assets and liabilities so no financial skeletons in the closet. Establishes who has what before the nuptials and frankly fast forwards your relationship to see if it is strong enough to handle a "difficult" conversation and negotiation. Lets you establish what claims your spouse will have to your future earnings, and how you will resolve paying for joint assets.

Money is one of the top things couples inevitably have disagreements about and resolving this up front saves a lot of future angst.

Ounce of prevention is a pound of cure as they say.

[notch656a]

I mean this is a decent point, but I have to point out the following:

>Lets you establish what claims your spouse will have to your future earnings

A pre-nup can't really cover this base. For the typical working class folk the way future earnings after divorce are extracted are through child support, which in its current incarnation functions as back-door alimony and can't be cancelled through a pre-nup.

[hd4]

I'll do one better, just don't marry. Pre-nups are routinely thrown out by divorce courts.

Unless the guy is extremely poor and marrying a high net-worth woman, there is just no point in marrying, you gain absolutely nothing (except for pithy tax benefits in some cases).

[lelanthran]

> I'll do one better, just don't marry. Pre-nups are routinely thrown out by divorce courts.

That's not a good idea in many jurisdictions - after a predetermined number of years of living together as a couple (man and wife), you are considered to be married in community of property anyway[1].

It's safer to simply get married with a prenup; at least that requires either party to spend money and effort nullifying it.

If you don't want to take the risk, just don't move in together at all.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common-law_marriage

[notyourwork]

This is generally easier said than done for most couples. Like most things, hindsight is 20:20.

[lazide]

Definitely agree - also, couples that can do that tend to not be the ones who keep the divorce industry busy.

[nickMMM]

completely agree!