Worksheet: Do these couples need pre-nuptial agreements?

Use this worksheet of scenarios to help your clients understand when prenuptial agreements can be useful.

INSTRUCTIONS: Read through the scenarios and decide whether any of these couples should get pre-nuptial agreements. Write your answers down on the provided cue cards without showing them to your partner.

Couple One:

Angelina is a surgeon. She’s in her early 30s, recently finished her hospital residency and has been granted privileges to practice medicine. School has left her $250,000 in debt. Her new position at a major Calgary hospital will pay her $307,000 this year. She’s engaged to Larry, an environmental engineer. Larry has been working for eight years and built up an investment and savings portfolio of $150,000. His annual salary is $94,000.

Couple Two

Emma and Todd are both teachers. They’re engaged and plan to get married next year. As part of their wedding gift, Todd’s parents intend to pay the down payment on their first home. The home is a duplex; Emma and Todd plan to live in one unit while renting out the other.

Couple Three

Eloise, 43, and Robert, 49, are getting married this year. It’s the second marriage for both. Eloise has a son, Andrew, from her previous marriage. He attends private school, which is paid for by Eloise and her parents. Meanwhile, Robert has two daughters, Sandra, 16, and Meagan, 18. Meagan is in university. Robert splits those costs with his ex-wife. Sandra attends a public high school. Eloise plans to sell her condo and, along with her son, move in Andrew in with Robert and the girls.