[honeychile]

Since I can't ever imagine living with someone without the benefit of marriage (even if not for religious reasons - which they are - but for the sake of any children born), I probably shouldn't be answering - but I am intrigued by the pre-nup talk.

When you're in your early twenties, neither spouse is making much money at all, and sees no big change in the future, it's not very important. But when you hit your thirties and are getting married, it's a whole new ballgame. You have your current money, your pension, your assets, and probable inheritances to consider. Also, if you've been married before, you have your children to think about, to make sure that they're not "fleeced" by a greedy exspouse. If I were to marry a man with children or a lot of money, I would fully expect to sign a pre-nup - after my attorney checked it out. Similarly, if I lived in a state where inheritance was considered community property, I would insist upon one.

NO ONE goes into a marriage thinking about a divorce, but realistically, roughly half of the marriages in the United States fail. No one plans to have major hospital expenses, either, but most still carry insurance - same with home insurance, car insurance, etc. There are contingencies in life, and it's only wise to prepare for them.