If you find yourself wondering if you can get a prenup after marriage to outline your specific goals and needs for the future, the answer is no. A prenuptial agreement is an agreement you and your partner enter before your wedding day. However, you can create a postnuptial agreement instead.

If you're considering a prenup or want to learn more about the process, Neptune can help.  We are a prenup concierge service with a three-step process that makes it possible for you to gain the insights you need to make informed decisions about your future with greater confidence.

How Does a Prenup Work?

A prenup is an agreement in which two people come together to discuss values, financial goals, and their overall expectations about their future together. It aims to create a guideline or blueprint for future financial planning. As a result, it is something you do before your wedding instead of after.

A prenup can help couples in a number of ways:

• Have a healthy conversation about financial planning before moving forward
• Come to an agreement about valuables or other financial assets
• Create a blueprint for financial management well into the future
• Create a tailored plan that helps you make honest decisions about your future
• It builds open communication within partnerships before making a long-term commitment to each other

A prenup needs to be drafted, signed, and filed ahead of your wedding day.  The time you spend drafting a proper prenup can help provide clarity and a shared understanding of your future as you move forward together.

Take our prenup quiz to find out how well it could work for your needs.

What If You Don’t Have One But Are Already Married?

You may decide after marriage that you do want to establish plans for your future when it comes to financial matters with your partner. A postnup is a great way to address any questions or concerns you have together so you can create a clear path moving forward. 

The specifics of a postnup vary depending on your location and state laws, but it does offer you some flexibility to make similar decisions to those you would make when drafting a prenup. The best time to start drafting a postnup is usually within the first months or years of your union.

Reasons to consider a postnup include:

• Separating Business Interests: If one spouse maintains a business, and you wish to minimize any risk to that business interest, a postnup can be an excellent solution. It could lay out how the spouses agree on the value of that business.
• Managing Financial Changes: In some situations, a postnup allows you both to consider the agreed-upon use of inheritances or gifts received during your relationship.
• Providing for a Stay-at-Home Parent: When one partner decides to stay home to raise a family, creating a plan for how to financially navigate this process is another benefit of a postnup.

Postnups can be more complex because of state laws and the dynamics of your actual relationship. It isn't an uncommon agreement to pursue, but it can definitely feel overwhelming at times. You both need to consider many factors, which is why it's important to have an experienced attorney. They ensure the agreement is fair to both of you and legally sound.

Consider taking our postnup quiz to find out how incorporating this agreement into your partnership could further enhance your goals.

The Value of Planning for a Prenup Ahead of Your Wedding Day

If you’re not sure if you want to get a prenup now and are wondering if you should wait and draft a postnup instead, consider some of the clear benefits that come from making this decision now instead of putting it off.

• It is a collaborative process. You and your partner have the opportunity to discuss important financial decisions now and create a plan together.
• It builds on a strong foundation for your financial goals. When you discuss your prenup, you have an open and honest conversation with your partner, outlining shared values and financial goals.
• Open communication is always a good thing in relationships. Talk about your ideas, needs, and concerns. Lay everything out on the table. Most importantly, be proactive in creating a plan for your future together now.

It's important to take the time to discuss your financial goals, values, and needs, particularly if there are children involved. Doing this now, before your wedding day, allows you to clarify what happens moving forward, providing you both with greater peace of mind.

What to Do Now If You Need a Postnup

If your wedding day came and went, it is time to discuss a postnup for your future. Your attorney can craft one that outlines all of your needs and goals while creating clarity on what your future will include. Create a well-crafted prenup that outlines your needs and objectives in a very clear and straightforward manner.

Both of these agreements are legally binding. That means when you both make these decisions and create a tailored plan that is best suited for you both, it can become a foundation for your financial planning that does not change. It could strengthen your partnership and help you both feel good about what is to come.

Neptune Can Help 

If you’re thinking about a prenup or are interested in a postnup, Neptune can offer you guidance and support. As a concierge service, Neptune works to give you clarity on what your options are and how to bring those thoughts, ideas, and concerns together in a cohesive plan. You can get started right at home.

Simply start by chatting with Neptune about your needs and goals. We can create a preliminary plan before connecting you to a vetted attorney who can formalize it for you. 

Nothing is holding you back from creating an agreement that forms the foundation of your partnership together. Get started by connecting with Neptune now and learn more about your postnup and prenup options.