Prenups Surge Among Couples: New Study Reveals 20% Increase
UPDATE: A recent surge in prenups indicates a significant cultural shift among couples in the U.S. as new surveys reveal that approximately 20% of engaged or married adults now have a prenup, a dramatic increase from just 3% fifteen years ago. This trend reflects changing attitudes towards marriage and financial security, particularly among millennials and Gen Z, who are increasingly proactive about protecting their assets.
The latest findings from a 2023 Harris Poll and Axios indicate that prenups are becoming a standard practice, especially among younger generations. 47% of millennials and 41% of Gen Z report having a prenup, highlighting a generational shift towards practical financial planning. “Their attitude toward marriage is, ‘Look, the statistics are against us, so let’s just go in and do the best we can,'” says family law attorney Susan Scherman.
Couples today are not just protecting traditional assets like homes and savings; they are also safeguarding modern investments, including social media accounts, cryptocurrency, and even frozen embryos. For example, Kamila Staryga, founder of a reproductive health startup, felt a prenup was essential given her and her husband’s diverse asset portfolio, which includes stock options from his role at a leading AI company.
Prenups are being embraced more widely thanks to technology, which simplifies the process. Staryga and her husband utilized a service called First, which offers prenups starting at $599. This service allowed them to draft their agreement online, making the process accessible and straightforward. “We bought a Tesla on a website,” Staryga noted, emphasizing the ease of modern contract signing.
Social media platforms like TikTok have fueled interest in this topic, with influencers and legal experts discussing prenups as essential financial planning. The “Kardashian effect” has also played a role, as public interest in celebrity prenups helps normalize the conversation around them.
The evolving landscape of marriage is evident as women increasingly become primary breadwinners. As the gender wage gap narrows, women are more likely to seek prenups to protect their financial interests. According to Elizabeth Carter, a professor at Louisiana State University, the rise in prenups is not only about asset protection but also about the changing dynamics of who earns those assets.
Couples are also now including unique clauses in their prenups, such as provisions for pets and even infidelity penalties. Recent data from HelloPrenup reveals that one-third of prenups generated through their platform include an infidelity clause, with average penalties reaching approximately $165,000.
As attitudes towards marriage and financial security continue to evolve, prenups are no longer viewed as taboo. Instead, they serve as a proactive measure for couples to define their financial futures and protect against potential conflicts. As more couples embrace this trend, the prenup conversation is likely to remain at the forefront of modern relationships.
With the shifting landscape of marriage, couples are encouraged to consider these agreements seriously. As Rachel-Jean Firchau, a newlywed who recently moved to Australia, stated, “You can’t handshake your way into a marriage and expect that to protect you.”
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story as more couples reassess their financial planning strategies in today’s evolving relationship landscape.
