Signing a prenup agreement is becoming more and more popular these days. And there are many reasons why couples may decide they need one. For example, to pass separate property to children from prior marriages.

According to NOLO, an online resource that makes the law accessible to everyone by offering an extensive library of free, legal articles and a catalog of DIY products and legal services, “a marrying couple with children from prior marriages may use a prenup to spell out what will happen to their property when they die, so that they can pass on separate property to their children and still provide for each other, if necessary. Without a prenup, a surviving spouse might have the right to claim a large portion of the other spouse’s property, leaving much less for the kids.”

Another common reason for a prenup is simply wanting to clarify a couple’s financial rights and responsibilities during marriage. It may also help to avoid arguments in case of potential divorce. “Or they may want to avoid potential arguments if they ever divorce, by specifying in advance how their property will be divided, and whether or not either spouse will receive alimony. A few states won’t allow a spouse to give up the right to alimony, however, and, in most others, a waiver of alimony will be scrutinized heavily and won’t be enforced if the spouse who is giving up alimony didn’t have a lawyer,” NOLO explains.

When properly drafted, the prenup contract can identify each spouse’s separate property and confirm how it will be treated upon divorce. According to NOLO, you can also decide how you’ll split your marital estate in advance. For example, if you want each spouse to receive 50% of the marital assets, you can put that agreement in writing, rather than leave it to a judge in the event you divorce.

But prenups are not only about the money, since couples contemplating marriage may want to include other provisions too. Such provisions can establish things like which spouse will take out the trash, clean the house, or address other non-financial duties. “However, the law prohibits any clause that requires a spouse to complete a task or function in prenuptial agreements, and it may encourage the judge to take your entire agreement less seriously,” NOLO explains. If you or a person you know is in need of information on how exactly a prenuptial agreement works, check out their page right here.