Prenuptial agreements: a conversation about responsibility, not distrust

Many people worry that asking for a prenuptial agreement will be read as distrust. In practice, it's one of the most mature conversations a couple can have: about what each brings, what you build together and what happens if your paths part.

Who it suits

• Couples in a second relationship, with children from a previous one
• Anyone bringing a home, a business or an inheritance into the relationship
• Partners where one expects to receive a significant asset or inheritance
• Couples living together without marrying who want to set things out clearly

What happens without one

Without an agreement, married couples in Israel fall under the arrangement set by law, under which most assets built up during the marriage are divided when it ends. A prenuptial agreement lets you set a different arrangement that suits you.

How it becomes valid

A prenuptial agreement must be in writing and approved: before the wedding it can also be certified by a notary, and during the marriage it's approved by the family court or a religious court. It's important that each side fully understands what they're signing.