When entering a marriage, we often think of all the tasks and preparations that is required to be completed to make our wedding day memorable.
Many of us do not contemplate issues pertaining to finance, investments and equity.
For many of us, discussions pertaining to equity and investments are developed throughout the marriage, whereby as partners we work towards setting up our futures.
In today's society however, it is becoming increasingly common for couples to consider investments, assets and equity prior to entering marriages, with some requesting that their partners sign prenuptial agreements.
Exploring this social change within the marriage world is interesting.
We hear about prenuptial agreements almost on a daily basis amongst the lives of celebrities.
In fact, it has become so common in today's society that most of us expect glorified celebrities to have prenuptial agreements.
Perhaps this expectation originates from the poor percentages of successful marriages within the Hollywood world.
Couples enter marriages with pre-conceived ideas that the marriage may not work out, and thus, naturally attempt to protect and preserve their equity by engaging in prenuptial agreements.
This agreement is often signed with little issue, because often, both partners often have investments and assets within the millions.
The concept of prenuptial agreements can be somewhat understood and rationalized in reference to celebrities, however prenuptial agreements amongst non-celebrities is a little more complex.
In essence, prenuptial agreements are contracts which attempt to circumvent the law by having one partner agree to withhold from claiming any assets or investments from the other should the marriage fail.
To be asked to sign a prenuptial agreement by the partner you love would be extremely difficult to rationalize.
Many of us marry with the intention for the relationship to be long term or forever.
Prenuptial agreements however, promotes the idea that the marriage may not be long term, thus the agreement is signed in order to ensure that investments or assets held by that person is preserved.
For the partner asked to sign the agreement, this request would raise various issues.
Firstly, the strength of the relationship would be questioned.
Why would a request for a prenuptial agreement occur if there was complete faith in the marriage? Given that prenuptial agreements exist to preserve investments, equity and assets, one may question the motive for the marriage to occur in the first place.
Secondly, marriage entails sharing what couples have and what they bring into the marriage.
If one partner remains primarily concerned about their assets and investments, then where does the marriage fit on the scale of priority? What is considered more important? Does love not mean to have nothing if you don't have the person you love? Thirdly, if a prenuptial agreement was signed within a marriage, how would security and trust completely develop? Would one partner continually live within a marriage whereby they feared that the relationship would end, or that the investments and equity developed with their partner would be worth nothing? How do people prepare for the future if the future remains uncertain? Lastly, what outcome does the prenuptial agreement have on the marriage? We live in a world where it is becoming increasingly difficult to trust others, to ensure that we receive honesty in return when we are honest with another.
We also live in a world where traditions such as marriage are no longer regarded as important, or vital throughout the natural course of life.
Marriage is no longer expected, rather is has become a choice which is made by both men and women.
Despite these social changes, when we do find that perfect person, and we decide to marry, being asked to sign agreements that bring a degree of pessimism fail to create a secure and safe foundation for the marriage.
Rather, such agreements convey images of mistrust, insecurity and uncertainty.