I’m 29 years old, just inherited $1.2M from my parents and plan to get married in 2025 — should I make sure my fiancee signs a prenup before we get hitched?

A prenup may be the best way to protect an inheritance

Keeping your inheritance separate at all times is one way to protect it, but this may not be the approach, as you’d need to be extremely careful to avoid doing anything that could turn the money into marital property.

A prenuptial agreement enables you to avoid this potential risk. It allows you to clearly outline what each spouse will walk away with in the event of a divorce. This can not only protect your inheritance from being divided but also save you a lot of stress — and extra legal expenses — if your marriage ends.

However, ensure the prenup is legally valid. This means carefully following your state's laws and making sure that your future spouse is fully aware of all of your assets before signing, including the inheritance you've just received. A family law attorney can help you draft a valid contract.

If your partner is unwilling to sign a prenup, there are other options, such as transferring the inheritance to a trust before marriage. Even with this, you'd still typically need to ensure the assets aren't comingled to keep them protected.

For most people concerned about keeping an inheritance safe, a prenup is the way to go. Situations like this are why prenuptial agreements were created in the first place.

If you don't want to gamble $1.2 million on the chance that your your marriage is among the 57% of first marriages that succeed, you should insist upon signing a prenup before you say "I do."