A prenup in marriage is a legal agreement made before marriage that says how money, property, debts, and sometimes spousal support will be handled if the marriage ends. It’s basically a way for a couple to set clear financial rules in advance and reduce conflict later.

What it usually covers

A prenup can spell out:

  • Who keeps property owned before the marriage.
  • How assets and debts will be divided if there is a divorce.
  • Whether either spouse will pay alimony, and on what terms.

Why couples use it

People often use prenups to protect individual assets, avoid misunderstandings, and make financial expectations clearer before they marry. They can also be helpful when one or both partners have significant savings, debt, a business, or children from a previous relationship.

What makes it valid

For a prenup to hold up better in court, both people usually need full financial disclosure, enough time to review it, and separate legal advice is strongly recommended. It also has to be signed voluntarily, without pressure.

Simple example

If one person owns a house before the wedding, the prenup can say that house remains their separate property instead of becoming shared marital property. That way, everyone knows the rule before marriage instead of arguing about it later.

TL;DR: A prenup is a before-marriage contract that sets financial expectations and property rules in case the marriage ends.