Jesse James and Sandra Bullock may be headed toward divorce if some reports are to be believed. The juicy question I always ask is, “Was there a prenup?”
According to an E! News source, the two agreed to keep all of their finances completely separate which should make for a nice easy split (if there is such a thing). The report suggested that not only do they keep their incomes and businesses separate, but the home they share in Orange County California is wholly owned by Jesse, while Sandra still maintains her own residence in the Hollywood Hills.
Not everyone can afford to keep their homes, finances, and businesses separate the way that this type of power couple can, but there are lessons which can be learned from their planning. If you have assets prior to getting married, it is always a good idea to put together some sort of agreement in writing, just in case things don’t work out. A pre- or post-nuptial agreement is especially important if you and your significant other are not on equal financial grounds.
It doesn’t have to be a contentious discussion either, many times couples only decide to include certain assets in an agreement and allow everything else to be equitably divided if the relationship ends in divorce. In fact, I would venture to say that if you have difficulty breaching the topic with your dearly beloved, you probably have bigger communication problems than you are willing to admit, which is all the more reason to get something on paper.
Certainly not every relationship ends badly, but enough do that planning is truly a necessity. At the very least, the small amount that you spend on the agreement is insurance for divorce because it will reduce the amount of time attorneys would spend arguing over who gets what for purposes of the divorce decree. If you are getting married after starting your career, or heading into a second or third marriage (or more), you probably have some assets and are versed in the pitfalls of divorce so do yourself a favor and get something in writing. You will only have yourself to blame if things go sour.
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