I insisted on a prenup settlement with my fiancé. I make greater than him and need to shield my belongings.

• Ashley Mason insisted on a prenup to guard her enterprise and belongings earlier than marriage.

• Mason believes contracts are important in each enterprise and private relationships.

• The couple spent a 12 months drafting the prenup, guaranteeing mutual safety of their belongings.

This as-told-to essay is predicated on a dialog with Ashley Mason, a 27-year-old enterprise proprietor in Massachusetts. The next has been edited for size and readability.

I began my advertising and marketing company in 2016. I labored arduous to construct it from scratch and advised myself that if I obtained married, I wished to guard this asset in any respect prices.

I heard tales from different entrepreneurs about how they constructed a enterprise, got married without a prenup, and later divorced. Some needed to hand over cash and partial enterprise possession to their ex-spouse.

I spent a lot time constructing my enterprise that I could not think about dropping a few of it in a divorce. I promised myself that once I met my future associate, we would signal a prenup earlier than we married.

Getting a prenup earlier than marriage was a non-negotiable for me

After assembly my fiancé in 2018, we talked about prenups a number of occasions earlier than getting engaged. You hear tales of individuals being offended by the concept of a prenup, however my fiancé did not care in any respect. He is formidable and works for his dad’s plumbing enterprise. He was completely advantageous with it.

I imagine contracts are important in enterprise and relationships. It may not sound romantic to match like to enterprise, however if you’re about to enter a authorized marriage with somebody, I imagine it is best to have a contract outlining worst-case state of affairs phrases.

Earlier than I work with a shopper, we signal a contract that protects us if one thing goes flawed. I might by no means do enterprise with somebody with out that authorized safety as a result of it might finish in a expensive lawsuit. That is why it is smart from a private perspective, too.

I’ve extra belongings than simply my enterprise and cash in financial institution accounts

I typically hear individuals say they do not want a prenup as a result of they have no belongings besides their money or investment accounts. That is not the case for me. With my very own cash, I’ve bought belongings like a automotive and a 16-acre property.

Whereas I am excited to share my cash and belongings with my associate and plan to separate our payments and bills, I nonetheless need to shield my belongings if one thing occurs. The one means to try this legally is by having an in depth prenup.

Plus, a prenup is not one-sided. It protects my fiancé, too, and he can add in what belongings he needs to guard.

We spent a 12 months engaged on our prenup

My fiancé and I obtained engaged in November 2022 and set a marriage date for October 2024. Seven months after getting engaged, I urged we begin the prenup process.

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We first audited all our belongings out and in of our financial institution accounts. For instance, my fiancé owns a truck, snowmobiles, and Jet Skis. We listed all his objects and their values. Then, we mentioned how we would break up issues if we broke up.

We determined what’s mine is mine, and what’s his is his. Something we personal collectively, like the home we personal collectively, can be break up 50-50. We did not disagree on something throughout this course of.

My fiancé determined to not get his personal lawyer

Whereas I selected to hire a lawyer, my fiancé determined to not rent his personal. He felt that since we had been on the identical web page, it did not make sense for him to pay for an lawyer when he was keen to signal the prenup that my lawyer and I might draft.

That is allowed in Massachusetts; nonetheless, my lawyer did share that if we had been to break up, the decide may rule extra in his favor. I used to be OK with that danger.

I discovered a lawyer by means of a colleague’s suggestion. Over the previous 12 months, we have had about 5 conferences.

There was loads of back-and-forth as a result of our belongings modified throughout that point. After each assembly, I would share with my fiancé what the lawyer and I talked about or added to the prenup draft. As of July eleventh, 2024, the prenup is signed and notarized, which makes it last.

I paid round $5,000 for the prenup however view that as an funding in my future

My fiancé supplied to separate the price of the prenup with me, however I felt it wasn’t truthful for him to pay. Since I drafted the prenup extra favorably, I believed it was proper to tackle the associated fee.

My prenup value round $5,000. It would seem to be loads, however I used to be comfortable to spend somewhat bit of cash now to probably save in the long term.

Probably the most sophisticated half was determining alimony

At first, I used to be set on not giving any alimony, which is monetary assist that may permit your ex-spouse to keep up the life-style that they had whereas married to you. My lawyer suggested me that if a decide sees that in your prenup, it may be seen as unfair to the opposite social gathering.

We determined to incorporate alimony phrases within the prenup since I make round 40% greater than my associate a 12 months. My fiancé and I agreed on a tiered system primarily based on the variety of years we have been collectively. For instance, if we have been collectively for 5 years, there would not be alimony, however at 10 years, a sure proportion can be given, and so forth.

Prenups aren’t only for wealthy individuals

There is a stigma round getting a prenup that when you get one, it is since you’re superrich. That is not true, however at 27, no one I do know has a prenup. I could not flip to pals for recommendation, so I researched independently.

We’re only a few weeks away from the marriage, and now that the prenup is signed, I really feel like we are able to concentrate on what’s subsequent for us. Ultimately we need to have youngsters and purchase extra homes collectively. We’ve got a powerful relationship, and we’re getting into marriage realizing we’re on the identical web page now and can be sooner or later.

Wish to share your story? E mail Lauryn Haas at lhaas@businessinsider.com.

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