Prenuptial agreements are quite common in our society, as they help couples safeguard their assets from a possible divorce prior to entering into marriage. However, prenuptial agreements are not the only precautionary measures that a couple can take to decrease the likelihood of an unpleasant divorce. Premarital counseling is another way to make sure that a couple is ready to take the plunge into marriage and hopefully bypass a divorce.
Premarital Counseling
The most common reasons for divorce usually stem from the following: financial issues; lack of trust; insecurity; and religious or cultural differences. Premarital counseling provides couples with a chance to discuss in detail some of the issues that may surface later on in a marriage. Premarital counseling can shine a light on how each partner deals with these issues and can offer some insight into whether or not the couple will be able to work through them. By communicating about these issues in the onset of the marriage, a couple can increase the likelihood of it succeeding.
Benefits of Premarital Counseling
There are many benefits to premarital counseling that can help strengthen the bond between two partners while:
- Providing the couple with an outside opinion as to whether they are compatible. Licensed Marital and Family Therapists (LMFTs) are trained to provide couples with an outside perspective on their relationship and offer honest advice on how to make it last; and
- Forcing the couple to discuss issues that may be irrelevant at the present time but later become important, such as beliefs related to raising children, household expectations, and marriage in general. Although it may be difficult to discuss these topics before any issues arise, it allows a couple to take precautionary measures to really get to know their future spouse before saying “I do.”
Although premarital counseling is a great way to test your relationship before entering into a marriage, it can also result in some consequences.
Pitfalls of Premarital Counseling
Premarital counseling may be beneficial to most couples, however there are a few red flags to be aware of:
- The marriage counselor may not be good. Seek advice from an accredited marriage counselor. Couples should make sure that the counselor with whom they are speaking is knowledgeable and will help rather than hinder their relationship; and
- The wedding may not happen. All the talk about deep-rooted issues may result in one of the partners calling off the wedding. Although this is a risk, it may be for the best in the long run since the couple may realize before getting married that they are just not compatible.
If you are contemplating marriage and want to seek the help of a lawyer regarding the possibility of drafting a prenuptial agreement, contact one of the experienced DuPage County family law attorneys at Sullivan Taylor, Gumina & Palmer, P.C. today. We will advise you on your rights and make sure that you and your assets are protected in the event of a divorce.
