‘Pre-nup’ offers peace of mind

A pre-nuptial agreement is certainly an option you should consider, although nobody wants to enter into a marriage contemplating splitting up, so it is often difficult to broach the subject with a fiancée. However, it is worthwhile considering when you are the owner of a valuable asset, such as a farm.

Dear Karen,I’m getting married next year, to a girl I’ve been going out with for seven years.We’ve been living together for the past three years, in a rented house in the local town.She’s a primary school teacher.We’re building a house on my parent’s farm, which I am due to inherit. I’m currently in a farm partnership with them.We’ve had a savings account for the past three years and that is paying for the house, along with a small mortgage we took out.I spend most days in my parent’s house as I’m working on the farm full-time.One day, over dinner, my mother asked me if we were going to have a pre-nuptial. I hadn’t considered it before, but the farm has been in the family for a number of generations and I think they are concerned about their own security. They are in their 70s.Is a pre-nuptial worth getting?