Prenuptials can protect you

Couples should plan how to divide assets at the blissful beginning, not the bitter end.

• The engagement: Family law attorneys know that for happiness to survive the disintegration of love, couples can take one big step before putting on rings: Get a prenuptial agreement. It’s not a perfect document, but it’s generally enforceable.

Don’t know who should get the dog? The prenup guides the way. How much stock should a spouse get at Splitsville? Deal with it now.

• The bliss: With a prenup in place, all your worries are over, right? After all, the person you love would never try to, say, hide a few assets. Would he? Or she? But it happens all the time.

Indeed, both spouses must understand their household’s finances.

"Do not allow your spouse to run all the finances and you know nothing about it," said one financial analyst.

• The breakdown:

So, you kept track of everything, but the son-of-a-gun who’s been playing around with the grocery checker has broken your heart. Don’t get even, get smart.

This is the time to gather all the financial information you can find — bank statements, mutual funds, pension plans, real estate deeds, stock options, pay stubs, jewelry or any other asset with more than sentimental value.

Consider what you want to keep. Write it down.

• The breakup:

It’s lawyer time, and if you’re not prepared, it’ll cost you. Lawyers charge by the hour. So if you dump a bunch of documents on their laps, they’ll charge you to sort through it.

Keep costs down by negotiating as much as possible with your spouse.

"You can negotiate a far better settlement than you’re going to get from a judge," said one divorce lawyer.

• The spoils:

Everyone loses in a divorce, if for no other reason than two households must be maintained on incomes that had operated one. The spouse who’s not the primary breadwinner needs to be especially assertive.