More than half of engaged or married Americans under 45 now have a prenuptial agreement, according to a recent survey. This shift is driven by younger couples who want to protect their assets and avoid messy divorces. Celine Tsoi and Charles Mock, a couple from California, decided to get a prenup after just eight months of engagement.
Celine, 23, and Charles, 27, chose to have a prenup to discuss important financial questions while they still loved each other, rather than waiting until things went bad. Charles, a nurse, earns more than Celine, a PhD student, but they wanted to face up to financial questions from the start. The conversation about the prenup showed them what the other person was like, and Celine was touched that Charles wanted the agreement to say she should have the house if they split up.
Prenuptial Agreements on the Rise
In the US, divorce courts have always tended to uphold prenups, and now more couples are taking advantage of this. Around one in five married couples in the US has a prenup, with younger couples leading the way. London lawyer Mark Gilmartin says he has seen a big increase in demand for prenups in the past 18 months, with “start-up professionals” and “every-day” couples wanting them to protect inherited wealth.
Becca Gibson and her fiancé Dave Howells are among those who have chosen to get a prenup. Becca, 33, was open to the idea after her first marriage ended badly, and she wants to protect the property she expects to inherit from her parents. Dave, 45, earns more than three times what Becca earns, and he wants to be pragmatic about their financial future. The couple used an online platform to create their prenup, which was faster and cheaper than traditional methods.
What’s Driving the Trend
Lawyers say a desire to avoid repeating the pain of a previous separation or messy splits is a prime motivation for many couples. The rise of online platforms has also made prenups more accessible and affordable. Julia Rodgers, cofounder of US prenup platform HelloPrenup, points out that couples are getting married later and have more to protect, including university debt, businesses, and homes.
The surge in prenups among young couples reflects a growing awareness of the importance of financial planning and protection in marriage. As more couples take control of their financial futures, the stigma around prenups is fading, and they are becoming a normal part of wedding planning. This shift has broader significance, as it highlights the changing attitudes towards marriage, finance, and relationships among young Americans.
