NEW YORK (AP) — Longtime celebrity watchers may not have been shocked when Jennifer Lopez filed for divorce from Ben Affleck, but what was surprising was that Lopez's divorce petition did not include any mention of a prenuptial agreement. A prenup is a legal document for soon-to-be-married couples that lays out how they will divide their assets during their marriage and if they divorce. They're common for celebrities and very wealthy couples, but divorce law attorney Raiford Dalton Palmer says you should consider one even if you don't have a lot of money .
“Prenups are not just for rich people," said Palmer, who is a managing shareholder of STJ Divorce Law. “They can be very important for people that don’t have as much money because every dollar spent on attorney’s fees is a dollar that you’re not able to spend on your children or yourself.” If you plan to get married soon, here’s what you need to know about prenuptial agreements: You should have a prenup conversation early When approaching the topic with your significant other, timing is key.
Family law attorney Linda J. Ravdin recommends that you have the conversation sooner rather than later and don't wait until you're halfway through organizing your wedding. “As soon as they start talking about marriage, the person who wants the prenup should be saying something,” Ravdin said.
It’s also important to be aware of your state’s deadline to submit a prenuptial agreement. For example, California has a se.