I realize context does matter a lot, but I have been thinking lately about what terms in such an agreement are and are not reasonable. I have communicated to my partner that if we were to get married, I’d support a prenup because I think it’s good to be on the same page about finances and ownership, even if the relationship doesn’t end in divorce. It’s also a test - since if he suggested something one sided, then I’d rather know sooner than later.
To first order, if children aren’t involved and both partners have careers and aren’t in poverty, I’d think that two partners are entitled to their assets prior to entering the relationship, and then assets during the relationship are split equitably throughout the relationship. If I did get pregnant and had children, then I’d feel entitled to more compensation. I would personally never give up my career, but if I were to do that, then I’d feel entitled to even more. And if I were doing more household chores and labor than my husband, then I’d definitely feel entitled to more (though this isn’t the case in my relationship as my partner is an excellent cook and he does a lot of the cleaning).
Anyway I don’t quite know how to assign monetary value to the process of going through pregnancy and carrying a child (outside of healthcare expenses). I wanted to ask opinions from others who have been through this or thought it through more than I have.
I wish I had more to offer, but I’m very interested in this topic. I want to marry my HVM boyfriend, but also protect my finances.
I want to keep all my pre-marriage assets, and keep separate finances while married, with only a shared account for expenses. I am a high earner and I would be at a disadvantage if we split the marital earnings 50/50.
However, of course I also want to protect myself if I ever take a break from working in order to raise children. I can imagine having my husband contribute to my retirement accounts, so I keep saving even while not earning my own paycheck.
Also consider inheritance from parents, grandparents, etc. A pre-nup should allow you to keep all of those assets yourself. No way in hell am I allowing an ex-husband to claim my parents’ last gifts to me.