Bringing up a prenuptial agreement with your fiancé can feel like you’re planning for failure before you’ve even started as a Florida prenup lawyer can share. It’s awkward. It’s uncomfortable. And honestly, most people would rather avoid the conversation altogether. The reality we see at The McKinney Law Group: the couples who handle this conversation well don’t love each other any less than those who avoid it. They’re just being practical about protecting what they’ve built before marriage while planning a life together.
Start The Conversation Early
Timing matters more than you might think. Don’t bring up a prenup two weeks before your wedding while you’re addressing invitations and tasting cake samples. That’s a recipe for disaster, and it can actually make your prenup unenforceable in Florida courts if it looks like one person was pressured. Start talking about it months before the wedding. Six months is reasonable. A year is even better. This gives both of you time to process the idea, talk to your own attorneys, and negotiate terms without the clock ticking down to your big day.
Frame It As Protection For Both Of You
The biggest mistake people make? Presenting a prenup in a way that sounds like it only benefits one person. That immediately puts your partner on the defensive. Instead, talk about what you’re both bringing into the marriage and what you both want to protect. Maybe you’ve got student loans you don’t want to burden them with. Maybe they’ve got a family business they need to keep separate. Maybe you both have retirement accounts you’ve been building since your twenties. A prenup isn’t about planning for divorce. It’s about clarity. It’s about knowing what belongs to whom if things don’t work out, so there’s no confusion or lengthy court battles later.
Be Honest About Your Concerns
Don’t dance around why you want a prenuptial agreement. If you’ve got specific concerns, say them out loud. Avoiding the real reasons makes the conversation feel secretive and suspicious.
Common reasons people want prenups include:
- Protecting a business or professional practice
- Keeping inherited property in the family
- Shielding one spouse from the other’s debts
- Providing for children from previous relationships
- Maintaining separate property acquired before marriage
Whatever your reason is, own it. Your fiancé deserves to know what’s motivating this request.
Acknowledge The Emotional Side
Yes, prenups are legal documents. But they’re also emotional minefields for engaged couples. Your partner might hear “I don’t trust you” or “I’m already planning our divorce” when you bring it up. Acknowledge those feelings. Let them know you understand why this might feel hurtful or strange. Don’t dismiss their reaction or tell them they’re being unreasonable. Give them space to process their emotions about it.
Suggest You Both Get Your Own Lawyers
This is actually required in Florida for a prenup to hold up in court, but it’s also good relationship advice. When you suggest that your fiancé get their own attorney to review the agreement, you’re showing that you want them protected, too. A Florida lawyer can explain their rights, suggest modifications that protect their interests, and help them feel more confident about signing.
Don’t Make It An Ultimatum
“Sign this or we’re not getting married” is probably the worst approach you could take. It creates resentment and makes your partner feel cornered. Instead, approach it as something you’d like to do together. If they’re hesitant, ask what would make them feel better about it. Maybe they want certain provisions included or excluded. Maybe they need time to talk to their family or their own attorney.
Focus On Financial Transparency
One positive aspect of creating a prenup? It forces you both to have honest conversations about money before you’re legally tied together. You’ll discuss your debts, your assets, your spending habits, and your financial goals. These are conversations you should be having anyway. The prenup just gives you a structured reason to have them now instead of after you’re married and disagreements about money start causing real problems.
Present It As Standard Planning
More couples are getting prenups than ever before, especially when both partners have established careers or significant assets. It’s becoming a normal part of wedding planning for many people, not just the ultra-wealthy. You might frame it alongside other practical planning you’re doing, like combining bank accounts, updating beneficiaries on life insurance, or buying a home together.
At our firm, we help couples navigate these conversations and create agreements that work for their specific situations. If you’re considering a prenuptial agreement and aren’t sure how to begin the discussion with your partner, we can provide guidance on both the legal and practical aspects of moving forward. Contact The McKinney Law Group today.