For many high-net-worth couples, marriage is a partnership built on love, shared goals, and financial success. However, as recent trends reveal, even the most seemingly perfect marriages can face challenges – often due to complexities that wealth and status introduce.
A recent CBS Sunday Morning News segment, For better … or for worse, featuring therapist Marissa Nelson and renowned divorce attorney Robert Stephan Cohen, delved into the intricacies of modern marriage, shedding light on why some relationships falter despite financial stability. Their insights offer valuable lessons for affluent couples navigating marriage, particularly in New Jersey, where high-asset divorces can become complex and contentious.
Affluent individuals – entrepreneurs, business owners, executives, celebrities, and professionals – face unique challenges in marriage that extend beyond emotional connection. In high-net-worth divorces, the stakes are significantly higher, involving luxury assets, business interests, multi-generational wealth, and complex financial portfolios. Whether it’s protecting a thriving business from being divided in a divorce, safeguarding inherited wealth, or ensuring a fair and discreet asset division, these individuals require exclusive asset protection strategies to maintain financial stability. A high-stakes divorce can lead to prolonged litigation, public scrutiny, and financial upheaval, making proactive planning, such as a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement, essential for legacy preservation.
One of the most critical takeaways? Protecting your financial future with a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement is essential – no matter how strong your marriage seems today.
The Hidden Struggles of Wealthy Marriages
CBS Correspondent Susan Spencer discussed a 27% decline in divorce rates between 2012 and 2022 and spoke with experts and a married couple to understand the challenges couples face, strategies for maintaining a strong relationship, and reasons why some marriages still end in divorce despite the overall decline. The general U.S. divorce rate has declined over the past decade, and high-net-worth couples often face unique stressors that put their marriages at risk.
Nelson and Cohen highlighted some key reasons why even the wealthiest couples may struggle:
- Power Imbalances & Financial Disputes
- When one spouse earns significantly more or controls the finances, tensions can arise over spending habits, business decisions, and financial priorities.
- Cohen noted that financial disagreements remain a leading cause of divorce, even among affluent couples.
- High-Pressure Lifestyles & Career Demands
- Entrepreneurs, executives, and high-profile professionals often prioritize career success, leaving little time for nurturing their marriage.
- Marriages can suffer when work becomes the primary focus, leading to emotional distance and dissatisfaction.
- Infidelity & Emotional Disconnect
- Wealth and status can create opportunities for infidelity, especially when travel, networking, and public exposure are part of daily life.
- Emotional detachment often follows, making reconciliation difficult.
- The Complexity of Wealth in Divorce
- Without a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement, a divorce can quickly become a legal battlefield over assets.
- Divorce for high-asset couples isn’t just about emotional separation—it involves business interests, real estate, investments, and multi-generational wealth.
How a Prenup or Postnup Can Protect High-Asset Couples
While no couple enters marriage expecting it to end, planning for the “what if” scenarios can provide financial security and peace of mind.
Prenuptial Agreements: Planning Before Marriage
A prenuptial agreement (prenup) is a legally binding contract that defines how assets will be divided in the event of divorce or death. For high-net-worth couples, a prenup is a vital tool for:
- Protecting business interests and investments.
- Clarifying ownership of real estate and family inheritances.
- Defining spousal support arrangements.
- Preventing lengthy and expensive litigation.
At Zeigler Law Group, LLC, an experienced New Jersey prenuptial agreement lawyer can help you create a plan that safeguards your future and the future of your new family. A lawyer provides open communication and sound legal counsel for couples pursuing premarital agreements, helping you fully understand your options and the process involved.
Postnuptial Agreements: Strengthening Marital Security
If a couple didn’t sign a prenup before marriage, a postnuptial agreement (postnup) offers similar protections but is created after the wedding. A postnup can be particularly useful when:
- One spouse starts or significantly expands a business.
- The couple accumulates substantial wealth after marriage.
- Financial disputes arise, and a legal agreement provides clarity.
- The couple wants to proactively prevent a contentious divorce.
Sonya K. Zeigler, Esq. at Zeigler Law Group, LLC is well-versed in drafting comprehensive postnuptial agreements tailored to the unique needs of high-asset couples in New Jersey. She strives to ensure that your agreement is enforceable and aligns with your financial goals.
Why New Jersey High-Asset Couples Should Prioritize Legal Protection
New Jersey follows equitable distribution laws, meaning assets in a divorce are divided fairly but not necessarily equally. Without a prenup or postnup, a judge has broad discretion in determining asset division, which can lead to unexpected financial consequences.
A well-structured marital agreement ensures:
- Protection of pre-marital and family wealth.
- Clarity in asset division, reducing costly legal battles.
- Security for business owners and entrepreneurs.
- Peace of mind that financial matters are settled upfront.
At Zeigler Law Group, LLC, Sonya understands the complexities involved in high-asset divorces and the importance of protecting your interests. She is dedicated to providing personalized legal solutions to help you navigate these challenges effectively.
Love, Wealth, and Smart Planning: Contact a New Jersey Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreement Lawyer at Zeigler Law Group, LLC
As the experts in the recent interview emphasized, maintaining a healthy marriage—especially for high-net-worth couples—requires open communication, shared priorities, and strategic planning. While love is the foundation, financial clarity strengthens the structure of a marriage.
If you’re entering a marriage or considering legal protection for your wealth, a prenuptial or postnuptial agreement isn’t about expecting divorce—it’s about ensuring fairness and stability, no matter what the future holds.
For personalized legal advice, contact a New Jersey prenuptial and postnuptial agreement lawyer at Zeigler Law Group, LLC. Call 732-361-4827 or complete our online form for a free consultation. We have offices in Toms River, Red Bank, Princeton, and Mount Laurel, New Jersey, and we serve clients in Ocean County, Monmouth County, Mercer County, and Burlington County.