Legal Definitions - antenuptial contract

An antenuptial contract, also known as a prenuptial agreement or prenup, is a legal agreement made by a couple before they get married. The purpose of the agreement is to resolve issues related to support and property division in case the marriage ends in divorce or by the death of a spouse.

For example, a couple may agree in their antenuptial contract that in case of divorce, each spouse will keep the assets they brought into the marriage and any assets acquired during the marriage will be divided equally. They may also agree on spousal support payments and other financial matters.

Antenuptial contracts are often used by couples who have significant assets or income, or who have been married before and want to protect their assets for their children from previous marriages. They can also be used to clarify financial expectations and avoid disputes in case of divorce.