For Better or For Worse: A Canadian Guide to Marriage Contracts and Cohabitation Agreements

Published: April 28, 1999

This book is a practical, non-threatening guide to marriage contracts and cohabitation agreements: what they are, who needs them, what they can do for you, how to broach such an unromantic subject with your sweetheart, working with a lawyer to draft or customize a contract, and lots of examples.

Thousands of Canadians get married each year—in love, starry-eyed, and committed forever. But almost half of Canadian marriages end in divorce, and trust can soon turn to bitter battles over business assets, financial settlements, and child custody.

This book is a practical, non-threatening guide to marriage contracts and cohabitation agreements: what they are, who needs them, what they can do for you, how to broach such an unromantic subject with your partner, and working with a lawyer to draft or customize a contract.

From the Back Cover

Couples now have a lot more to think about when getting married than planning the perfect ceremony and choosing the ideal honeymoon spot. Many also decide to enter into a marriage contract before tying the knot, for many different reasons:

To protect or deal with assets brought into the marriage by one or both partners.
To accommodate the special situations and financial arrangements of blended families.
To satisfy family or business partners who demand that a prenuptial agreement be signed.
To avoid the bitter fights that can arise if the relationship does end in divorce or separation.

Couples in common-law and same-sex relationships— who never get legally married— also choose to sign cohabitation agreements. These contracts are often the only way for common-law and same-sex couples to protect themselves and each other financially.

For Better or for Worse is a complete, practical guide to marriage contracts and cohabitation agreements:

Written in accessible non-legal language, this book makes it easy for couples to explore the issues and options in a non-threatening way.
Provides full coverage on what marriage contracts and cohabitation agreements are, who needs them, and what they can do for you.
Offers advice on how to raise the subject without jeopardizing the relationship.
Addresses the special concerns of step-families and same-sex couples.
Helps you find and work effectively with a lawyer. It may even help you save hundreds of dollars in legal fees.
Includes samples of key legal and financial documents, and a glossary of legal terms.