Holiday Engagement Season: Why a Prenup Might Be the Best Gift You Give Each Other
Holiday Engagement Season: Why a Prenup Might Be the Best Gift You Give Each Other
A Practical Guide for Engaged Couples in Pennsylvania & West Virginia
The holiday season brings twinkling lights, family gatherings, and—if you're among the many couples saying “yes!” this time of year—joyous new engagements. As you start dreaming about venues, menus, and color palettes, there’s one more important item worth adding to your planning list: a prenuptial agreement.
Before you picture an uncomfortable conversation or a cold legal document wrapped in tinsel, know this—the modern prenup is less about “protecting assets from each other” and more about protecting your future together. Think of it as a practical, thoughtful gift that sets the foundation for a strong marriage.
Here’s what engaged couples in Pennsylvania and West Virginia should know about holiday engagements and prenups.
Why Prenups Are Becoming a Holiday Engagement Essential
1. Prenups Encourage Healthy Financial Conversations
The holidays are filled with hope and excitement—the perfect energy for planning your life together. A prenuptial agreement opens the door for honest conversations about income, spending, debt, and future goals. Couples who communicate openly about money from the start often build stronger, more secure relationships.
2. Prenups Protect Both Partners, Not Just One
In Pennsylvania and West Virginia, prenuptial agreements allow couples to define:
- How to handle premarital property
- What happens to individual vs. marital assets
- How to address existing debts (like student loans or credit cards)
- Whether spousal support (alimony) will apply in the future
A well-written agreement ensures fairness and clarity—no surprises later if life changes.
3. Prenups Reduce Stress If Life Takes an Unexpected Turn
No one walks down the aisle expecting divorce. But just like insurance, a prenup provides peace of mind. Should the unexpected happen, you’ll already have a plan in place—minimizing conflict, uncertainty, and costly litigation.
Prenups in Pennsylvania vs. West Virginia: What Engaged Couples Should Know
Prenuptial Agreements in Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, courts generally uphold prenuptial agreements unless there was fraud, duress, or a failure to provide full financial disclosure. A Pennsylvania prenup can:
- Address division of property if the marriage ends
- Clarify rights to premarital and marital assets
- Set expectations around spousal support (alimony)
Child-related terms, like custody or child support, cannot be permanently predetermined in a prenup. The court will always look to the best interests of the child at the time of separation.
The key in Pennsylvania is transparency and fairness. Both partners should understand the agreement and have time to review it—ideally with their own attorneys.
Prenuptial Agreements in West Virginia
West Virginia follows the Uniform Premarital Agreement Act (UPAA), which gives a clear legal framework for prenuptial agreements. Like Pennsylvania, West Virginia requires:
- Voluntary signatures by both partners
- Fair and reasonable financial disclosure
- No unconscionable (extremely unfair) terms at the time of signing
Courts in West Virginia tend to uphold prenups that are entered into openly and fairly. A carefully drafted agreement can provide stability and reduce uncertainty if the marriage later ends.
Bottom line for PA & WV couples: In both states, a thoughtfully prepared prenuptial agreement can provide clarity, protection, and peace of mind as you enter marriage.
Why the Holiday Season Is the Perfect Time to Talk About a Prenup
If you’re newly engaged, you’re likely already talking about your future—where you’ll live, how you’ll blend finances, and what you want out of life together. Introducing a prenup naturally fits into these long-term planning conversations.
Weddings come with timelines and deadlines, and the same is true for prenups. Starting early:
- Avoids any appearance of pressure or last-minute stress
- Gives each partner time to review the terms with a lawyer
- Makes it more likely your agreement will be upheld by a court
For couples in Pennsylvania and West Virginia who got engaged over the holidays, the months before the wedding are an ideal window to draft and finalize a prenuptial agreement.
How to Bring Up the Prenup Without Ruining the Holiday Magic
Talking about a prenup doesn’t have to be awkward or unromantic. Here are a few gentle ways to start the conversation:
- “I want us to start our marriage with total transparency—can we talk about a prenup?”
- “We’re making so many big decisions; maybe we should talk about protecting each other financially too.”
- “I’d love to put a plan in place so we’re both secure no matter what life brings.”
Most partners appreciate clarity and fairness, especially when the conversation is framed as mutual protection, not a lack of trust.
Give Yourselves the Gift of Peace of Mind
A prenup isn’t about planning for the worst—it’s about intentionally building the best foundation for your life together. This holiday season, consider making space for this important step alongside the engagement photos, cake tastings, and venue tours.
Whether you're in Pennsylvania or West Virginia, The Skeen Firm helps couples create prenuptial agreements that are fair, transparent, and tailored to their unique relationship. Our mission, “Everyday Legal Advice,” means we focus on making complex issues clear and approachable for real people with real lives.
Ready to Start the Conversation?
If you got engaged this holiday season in Pennsylvania or West Virginia and are wondering whether a prenup makes sense for you, we’re here to help.
Book a discovery call today to speak with a family law attorney who understands both the legal and emotional sides of planning your future together.
Let The Skeen Firm help you begin your marriage with clarity, confidence, and peace of mind.
*Disclaimer: The advice provided is for informational purposes and is not intended as legal advice. It should not be relied on, nor construed as creating an attorney-client relationship.