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At age 21, there is no need for a pre nup unless one of them is rich (i.e. their parents might bequeath them a couple million dollars). Prenups at that age mainly protect the richer spouse from being robbed in case of a divorce.

if both are poor or middle class, then the 50 50 community split of what they earn should rule: The stay at home spouse is entitled to half of the earnings.

For older folks, a pre nup has more to do with their kids. I married a divorced man, and our pre nup said all of his savings went to his kids, not me, in case he died first. Ditto for my kids inheriting my money. That saved a lot of anger from his relatives who were worried I was after his money (even though both of us are docs).

No need for a prenuptial unless one of the parties is bringing significantly more assets to the marriage than the other, or unless one stands to inherit a lot of money or assets. If they’re both young and broke, a prenuptial will only sound as if they are pre-planning the breakup of the marriage.

I have long believed that the prenuptial serves as truth tests for parties entering a marriage I also think they are from more suitable for the second marriage and not the first.

Hope this was useful. Best wishes.

If he was marrying someone he had known for only a year or two, or if he was worth a lot, he should probably get a pre-nup, in this day and age. People can hide a lot of their personality in the space of only a couple of years. However, you said they’ve been best friends since 6th grade? I mean, just how well does he expect to EVER know her if he doesn’t know her by now? If he has underlying suspicions about her that make him uneasy, he should back off completely. Otherwise take the plunge.

If he asks her for a pre-nup, she is very likely never to quite forgive him for it. (Sort of like suggesting, when your GF gets pregnant, that an abortion would be the best idea ... but then getting married and keeping the baby after all ... but most women will NEVER FORGET that you made the wrong initial call and wanted to kill the baby. Or have them sign a pre-nup. Women remember everything. My own husband made some real boneheaded moves early on that although I’ve never said anything, I’ve never been able to forget. And I *realize* that about myself! LOL!)

I say he should fish or cut bait. Just decide. Does he trust her or not? Now is the time to decide. Then never look back.

In my opinion(which may not be worth much)prenups are an expectation that the marriage will fail. One strike before they even take their vows. Not only that, it sounds as if the woman is bringing as much to the marriage(financially)as he is and just where are the assets this guy wants to protect? I would never marry someone who wants a prenup. If they have no more faith than that, that the marriage will last, I would want nothing to do with them.

If he's looking at his marriage as a contract that can be broken, then yes, he should get a prenup. If he's looking at his marriage as a Christian covenant, then a prenup is a contingency plan in case of failure and is not necessary.

Personally, if one of my kids had wanted to marry someone who demanded a prenup, I'd have told them not to marry. A marriage is for a lifetime. In my book, there is no plan B.

My wife and I were married previously. Both marriages ended with the death of a spouse. Each of us had children and owned property. Neither of us were in any sense wealthy, but we wanted our respective properties to go to our own children (we're both well past the child-bearing age). So we had my attorney draw up a pre-nuptial agreement before we married. Nothing elaborate, but essentially it says that what we brought into the marriage goes to our own children in the event of the death of either of us. I think it was a good idea, and may forestall any disputes among our two families.