antenuptial marriage contract

/ ˌæntɪˈnʌpʃəl, -tʃəl /

noun

a contract made between a man and a woman before they marry, agreeing on the distribution of their assets in the event of divorce Sometimes shortened toantenuptial

Discover More

More About Antenuptial Marriage Contract

What is an antenuptial marriage contract?

An antenuptial marriage contract is a legal contract entered into by a couple before marriage that specifies things like the division of their finances and assets, especially in case the marriage ends, such as through divorce.

The word antenuptial is an adjective that means before marriage. This type of contract is far more commonly called a prenuptial agreement, or a prenup. The word antenuptial can be used as a noun in the same way to refer to such a contract.

Every antenuptial marriage contract is different based on what the couple wants it to include. Most contracts cover things like which member of the couple is entitled to certain portions of property, inheritance, and savings, or which member is responsible for certain things, such as debt.

The popular opinion about prenuptial agreements has traditionally been quite negative—many people view them as pessimistic and associate their use with rich celebrities who marry people who aren’t as rich. Plus, no one who’s about to get married likes to admit that there’s a possibility that the marriage might not work out. However, many people consider it good sense to enter into a prenup, and many legal advisors recommend them, especially since deciding how to split up assets during a divorce can be extremely strained.

Example: Everyone thought it was strange that we had an antenuptial marriage contract, but life is unpredictable.

Where does antenuptial marriage contract come from?

The concept of marriage contracts has been around for a very long time. Terms like antenuptial contract and similar phrases have been used since at least the 1700s. The first records of the term prenuptial agreement come from the late 1800s, and the word prenup has been used as a shortened form of prenuptial agreement since at least the 1980s.

The word antenuptial is composed of the prefix ante-, meaning “before,” and the word nuptial, meaning “of or relating to marriage.” The prefix pre- in the synonym prenuptial also means “before,” making its meaning identical to antenuptial.

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for antenuptial marriage contract?

prenuptial agreement
prenup
antenuptial agreement
antenuptial

What are some words that share a root or word element with antenuptial marriage contract?

What are some words that often get used in discussing antenuptial marriage contract?

How is antenuptial marriage contract used in real life?

Antenuptial marriage contracts are much more commonly called prenuptial agreements or prenups. The popular opinion about them has traditionally been negative, but many people view having one as good sense.

Try using antenuptial marriage contract!

Which of the following things might be included in an antenuptial marriage contract?

A. division of assets
B. assignment of rights to physical property
C. assignment of responsibility for debt
D. all of the above

antenuptial anteorbital

Browse