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- I insisted on a prenup with my future husband. I make more than him and want to protect my assets. (newsbreak.com)
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*Photo by Melanie Zacek Photography*
Ashley Mason and her fiancé took a year to finalize their prenuptial agreement to protect their respective assets before tying the knot. Mason, a 27-year-old business owner from Massachusetts, emphasized the importance of contracts in both her professional and personal life.
In 2016, Mason founded her marketing agency from scratch. She always knew she wanted a prenup to shield her business if she ever got married.
Mason heard from other entrepreneurs who lost significant portions of their businesses in divorces due to the absence of prenuptial agreements. Determined not to face a similar fate, she made a prenup a non-negotiable condition for marriage.
After meeting her fiancé in 2018, Mason made it clear from the start that a prenup was essential. Contrary to common belief that prenuptial agreements are unromantic or offensive, her fiancé, who works in his father’s plumbing business, was fully supportive.
Mason believes that just as contracts are necessary in business, they are equally crucial in marriage. She never engages in business without a legal contract to avoid potential disputes and finds it logical to approach marriage with the same caution.
Mason has accumulated various assets, including a car and a 16-acre property, in addition to her business and money. She wants to share expenses with her fiancé but also ensure her assets are legally protected through a prenup, which also secures her fiancé’s assets.
Engaged in November 2022, the couple planned their wedding for October 2024. Around seven months post-engagement, they began drafting the prenup. Both audited their assets, such as trucks and recreational vehicles, and agreed to keep individually owned assets separate, while jointly-owned items like their house would be split evenly.
Notably, Mason hired a lawyer, although her fiancé chose not to, which is permissible in Massachusetts. Mason’s lawyer noted that this might favor her fiancé in the event of a divorce, a risk Mason was willing to take.
Throughout the past year, Mason and her lawyer had five meetings to adjust the prenup as their assets changed. The finalized prenup was signed and notarized in July 2024.
Mason covered the $5,000 cost of the prenup, viewing it as a worthwhile investment in her future rather than a burdensome expense.
One of the more complex components was alimony. Initially resistant to the idea, Mason eventually agreed to a tiered alimony system based on the duration of the marriage, following her attorney’s advice.
Mason emphasizes that prenuptial agreements aren’t just for the wealthy. Despite the stigma, she found herself researching on her own as no one in her peer group had a prenup.
As their wedding day approaches, Mason feels reassured and ready to focus on their future, which includes plans for children and more property investments. The couple believes their strong relationship is further solidified by their mutual understanding and agreement forged through the prenup.
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*Read the original article on Business Insider*