630 CHED: Prenups Among Millennials - Featuring Laura Paris, Shulman & Partners

With wedding season in full swing, conversations about marriage contracts are becoming increasingly common, especially among younger couples navigating modern financial realities. In a recent segment, Associate Lawyer Laura Paris from Shulman & Partners LLP discussed why more millennials are considering prenups and what couples should understand before signing one. As living costs rise and many people marry later in life with greater assets or family support behind them, the question of how to protect individual and shared financial interests is becoming a practical part of wedding planning. Laura highlighted the importance of clarity, timing, and communication, offering grounded guidance to help couples approach the topic respectfully and with purpose. The discussion underscored how proactive planning can reduce conflict later and support healthier, more transparent relationships.

“I always say that you should not start negotiations less than a year or six months before a wedding. The closer you get to the date of the marriage, the more vulnerable you are to someone later arguing that they signed under duress.”
— Laura Paris, Associate Lawyer, Shulman & Partners LLP

During the interview, Laura explained the growing shift toward marriage contracts among millennial couples and why the trend extends far beyond stereotypes about expecting a relationship to fail. She noted that many people are entering marriage later in life, often with established careers, assets, or family contributions that they hope to protect. In addition, young couples are increasingly relying on parents or generational wealth to help fund major milestones such as purchasing a home, making marriage contracts a way to preserve family investments.

Laura emphasized that discussing a prenup is not a prediction of divorce but rather a practical step similar to securing insurance. Couples hope never to rely on it, yet having clear terms in advance can prevent unnecessary conflict if separation occurs. She also highlighted the emotional and financial strain of divorce, explaining that resolving these issues during a period of mutual respect is far easier than attempting to negotiate under heightened stress.

The conversation also explored the importance of timing. She cautioned against beginning prenup negotiations too close to the wedding, as doing so increases the risk of the agreement being challenged later on grounds of duress. She encouraged couples to raise the topic early and approach it collaboratively, with initial conversations happening privately between spouses before lawyers become involved.

Laura outlined the typical steps in the process: beginning with mutual discussions, followed by each person obtaining independent legal counsel, providing full financial disclosure, and negotiating terms that reflect both partners’ intentions and circumstances. Financial transparency, she explained, is essential, as the absence of proper disclosure can leave a contract vulnerable to being set aside.

While prenups are most common among individuals with significant assets, she noted that they can also be relevant for people who expect future earnings or business ventures to grow substantially, such as medical professionals or entrepreneurs. She encouraged anyone considering a prenup to speak with a lawyer beforehand, not to lock themselves into a decision, but to better understand what provincial legislation does and does not protect.

By approaching the discussion openly and early, couples can reduce costs, minimize conflict, and ensure that any agreement truly reflects their shared understanding. Laura’s guidance offered a balanced, practical perspective on an increasingly common part of modern relationships.