Hartman Inventory, LLC

Last week was Valentine’s Day. Romance was in the air and all over social media. Now we’re back to “normal.” Though not a romantic topic, I wanted to share the common-sense reasons for a prenuptial agreement.

Essentially a business document that is created to determine financial equality, many think of a prenuptial agreement only as protection in case of divorce. Not so! It’s a way to enter a marriage knowing you’ve made a fair and honest decision about your financial goals as a couple. You’ll have created a plan for your future as your wealth grows over the years. To know where you are now, and what plans you have for the many years to come, will help you build your marriage on a solid foundation.

A prenuptial agreement will also help with estate planning, as these two documents serve many of the same purposes. You’ll plan for your future together, making financial decisions now that will benefit you in later years.

Another key reason for a prenup is to state what specific items are to be passed on to which child. This is especially important when the happy couple merges two households, which includes children from previous marriages. You can identify the family heirlooms and sentimental items that belong to your family. It will state who should receive these items, which will serve a great purpose whether the need to refer to this document happens due to divorce or death. Knowing your children will have what should be theirs creates a high comfort level for them and trust among all family members.

A personal property inventory is the perfect start to creating a prenuptial agreement, as you will need to list the belongings of each person prior to the joining of households. A nationally certified home inventory professional can provide a thorough inventory for you, as you continue to make the fun, romantic plans for the wedding.

If you’re already married, it’s not too late to create this document. The inventory professional can identify who owned the items prior to the marriage.

Romantic? No. A necessary document? Yes.