‘You want clear financial expectations up front’: Prenups are on the rise as Gen Z embraces financial transparency in marriage

Fans took Devonta's side on Reddit (4), saying it was "beyond reasonable" to ask for a prenup.

"Not wanting a prenup and being offended that someone would ask is SO incredibly naive," said one.

And as Weinberger Law Group (5) points out, asking for prenuptial agreements is becoming more common for Gen Z.

In fact, a 2023 Harris Poll (7) found that 41% of Gen Zers and 47% of millennials who were engaged or married had a prenuptial agreement — compared to 20% of married couples overall.

Here are some reasons why younger couples are more open to prenups than their parents and some tips on how to approach the topic with your own partner.

Why more Gen Zers are signing prenuptial agreements

Los-Angeles based family law attorney Jacqueline Combs (8) told CNBC (9) that one of the big reasons Gen Zers are more comfortable discussing prenups is that "the taboo of divorces is long gone."

After all, 40% of marriages still end (10) in divorce in the U.S. And Gen Zers the financial and emotional impact of divorce in their own families.

Combs adds that Gen Zers grew up with greater access to information through the internet, social media and the news, all in the palm of their hands with smartphones.

That means they're not only more aware of prenuptial agreements as an option, but empowered to have candid conversations about financial decisions with their partners.

And they want to start those conversations earlier than Devonta did, as he popped the prenup question to Brittany right before marriage.

According to a 2023 Northwestern Mutual survey (11), 38% of Gen Zers say a serious money talk should happen after you know you're serious about each other but before you move in together or get married.

That would include talking about prenuptial agreements — and how you might split assets like real estate, debts and shared accounts in the event of divorce.

"You want clear financial expectations up front so that you are aligned on money decisions and you can avoid disputes" Combs said.

How to broach the prenup conversation

Talking about prenuptial agreements may not be taboo, but it can still elicit an emotional response (6). Like Brittany, your partner may fear that you are not committed to a shared future, that you are planning for the relationship to fail and that you don't trust them.

You can reassure your partner that the agreement is designed to protect both of you and reduce conflict — not create it.

It is designed to clarify both of your financial rights, protecting assets they acquired prior to marriage as much as your own, which remain their own. It is a way to set out who is responsible for debts. It is also a way to reduce possible legal costs in the event of divorce.