It’s not romantic. It’s not fun. And in some generations, it’s almost taboo. But if you want to protect your wealth—and possibly your reputation—creating a prenup may just be something you’ll want to consider.
50% of all marriages end in divorce. That’s a pretty staggering statistic, so it makes sense to want to protect yourself against such an event. You buy health insurance, car insurance, homeowner’s insurance, etc. Well, a prenup is like insurance for divorce.
And if you’re not getting married, you may still need protection because it’s not just marriage that has some Silicon Valley techs talking pre-nup: it’s cohabitation too. Any scenario in which two people snuggle up together long term can open the doors to later betrayal, humiliation, and loss of wealth, unless some ground rules are laid up front. Some insurance, if you will.
The types of “insurance” you can protect yourself with include:
Things these agreements can’t do:
So how can one of these agreements protect your real estate assets?
Well, for one, if you owned property before entering into the relationship, it’s considered separate property, and you can exclude that asset from division if you split up. As long as you don’t pay for any property-related expenses with a joint bank account or allow your beloved to make a mortgage payment with his or her funds (or your joint funds)—or help with any maintenance or upgrades—your asset will most likely remain separate and be protected.
As soon as your spouse participates in improvements that cause the value of your real estate asset to rise, they may become entitled to a portion of that appreciation. And as soon as any joint assets “comingle” with your separate asset—such as in using joint funds to pay for anything related to your separate property—that property can become joint property.
So, is it worth it to enter into a prenuptial agreement, or something similar? Only you can say. Here, in Silicon Valley, many couples are managing assets worth millions—and, in some cases, billions. That seems to me like something you’d want to protect.
For more detailed information on how to manage separate property—and keep it separate—while you’re in a relationship, visit https://family.findlaw.com/marriage/managing-marital-property-do-s-and-don-ts.html.
If you own property, and think you’re headed for divorce, ask your attorney to partner with a Certified Divorce Real Estate Expert who can help you protect the most valuable physical asset you own: your house.
Shannon Rose
CDRE, SRES, CDPE, CLHMS, GPS
DRE# 01422955
Los Gatos, CA
1-650-550-8646
DivorceRealtor@RoseGroupRE.com
SHANNON ROSE/ROSE GROUP
DRE #01422955
KW BAY AREA ESTATE
DRE #01526679
16780 LARK AVE.
LOS GATOS, CA 95032