Survey highlights importance of prenuptial agreements

A recent American survey has found that almost half of divorced or separated adults questioned regret not spending more time discussing finances before they got married. This view is shared by over a quarter of currently married respondents.

The survey, by CouponCabin.com, also found that 55% of divorced or separated adults would definitely or probably consider a prenuptial agreement to protect their finances if they were to do it all over again.

Once couples tie the knot, honesty about spending habits can be challenging. In fact, 41% of married U.S. adults said they have hidden purchases from their spouse.

When asked which financial “skeletons in the closet” they found out about their spouse after they wed, currently married and divorced/separated adults had significant differences. Overall, 45% of those divorced or separated said they found financial “skeletons in the closet” of their spouse, compared to only 16% of those currently married.

The financial skeletons discovered by divorced/separated adults after marriage include:

• My former spouse had a low credit score – 19%
• My former spouse carried large amounts of debt – 13%
• My former spouse lied about the income he/she made – 10%
• My former spouse had declared bankruptcy in the past – 3%
• Other – 18%