Virginia Family Law Blog

Some people view prenuptial agreements as planning for a marriage to fail. That is not true. A prenuptial agreement gives you and your partner the opportunity to plan for the future. While it may not sound particularly romantic, it can help get your marriage off on the right foot.

There are many reasons why you may be considering a prenup. Here are a few benefits of signing a prenuptial agreement.

Business owners and members of upper management in Virginia often have a lot at stake when they negotiate their divorces. Decisions about the division of real estate, retirement accounts and business assets often involve tension or outright disputes. The possibility of paying child or spousal support could add to their concerns. The stress could spill over into workplace performance, or the divorce could alter the ownership of a company.

People who hold stock in their companies might succeed in retaining a controlling interest by offer former spouses other marital assets. The distraction of negotiating the transfer of valuable assets, however, could alter the workplace performance of CEOs and owners. A researcher from Stanford's Graduate School of Business found that people in this situation might struggle to concentrate at work. Their productivity might plunge. If stock is lost during a divorce, influence over business decisions and strategy could erode.

About half of all first marriages end in divorce, and the odds only get worse the more times someone gets married. For divorcing couples in Virginia, financial times can often get rough after separation. That's why it's a good idea for each party to carefully consider the financial implications of divorce before proceeding with the legal process. Sometimes, couples counseling and therapy can resolve issues and help maintain a relationship.

The primary cost to think about when deciding to get a divorce is the cost of living. Maintaining two homes separately is almost always going to cost more than staying together. Even if one person stays in a house the couple bought while married, they will likely have to do so with less income. Selling the home also comes with expenses and hassles of its own, especially if the market isn't good.

Virginia fathers who are going through the divorce process are often concerned about how the separation will impact their children. Many dads in this situation are faced with the dilemma of giving up sole custody to the mother. Part of the reason why this question often arises is because experts have in times past warned against children, especially young children, spending time at night away from their mothers.

However, newer research shows the many benefits that children experience when divorced parents share 50-50 joint physical custody. This is true even for younger toddlers and infants. The only exception would be when a parent is neglectful or abuses the child.