Prenuptial agreements have long carried a certain stigma—once viewed as a sign of mistrust or a predictor of divorce. But that perspective is changing fast. Today, more couples than ever are turning to prenups not out of fear, but out of clarity, planning, and mutual respect.
According to a 2022 Harris Poll, only 3% of couples had a prenup in 2010. By 2022, that number had jumped to 15%. Among Millennials and Gen Z, the number is even higher: 40% of engaged or married individuals in the 18–34 age group say they’ve signed or plan to sign a prenup.
At the same time, the national divorce rate has been steadily declining, falling from 4.7 divorces per 1,000 people in 1980 to around 2.4 today.
So, what’s going on here?
While there’s no direct cause-and-effect relationship between prenups and falling divorce rates, the connection may not be coincidental. As a family law attorney and mediator, I see a growing number of couples use prenups as a tool for healthy communication, financial transparency, and long-term planning. Those same traits are also strong predictors of lasting marriages.
Rather than fueling mistrust, prenups are helping couples start their marriage from a place of mutual understanding—especially around important issues like separate property, business interests, debt, and spousal support. And when both partners feel informed and secure, they’re often more equipped to face life’s unexpected turns together.
Prenups are no longer taboo. They’re practical. And if more couples are staying married because they started with a clear roadmap, that’s something worth celebrating.
