On their fourth date, a tech entrepreneur asked his date, a marketing executive, if she'd consider a prenuptial agreement. Her response,, I will if you will,, sparked an honest conversation about their finances, goals, and assets.
Both in their 40s with careers, investments, and children from prior relationships, they saw a prenup as a practical step to safeguard their futures.
Financial expert Rachel Cruze, echoing sentiments from advisors like Suze Orman, emphasizes that love can cloud practical thinking, but marriage is as much an economic partnership as a romantic one. In 2025, the U.S. divorce rate hovers around 40'45 percent for first marriages, with second and third marriages failing at rates of 60 percent and 73 percent, respectively, according to the CDC's National Marriage and Divorce Rate Trends.
Not every couple needs a prenup, but financial planners strongly recommend them for those entering marriage with significant assets, debts, or complex family dynamics. Midlife couples, typically in their 40s and 50s, often have wealth disparities. One partner may have a business, real estate, or retirement savings, while the other has less.
Blended families may require inheritance clarification and protection.
Inheritances or Trusts: Future windfalls need safeguarding to stay separate property.
A 2024 Harris Poll found that 42 percent of U.S. adults view prenups as a smart financial tool, up from 36 percent a decade ago, with acceptance growing among younger generations (52 percent of Millennials and Gen Z).
It may not be romantic, but prenups can clarify anything from what happens in the event of infidelity to who gets the dog.