'Prenups are hot:' Why young Americans are tidying assets before tying the knot

Prenups are hot. That’s the message Chloe Elise is sending to her followers on TikTok ‒ and it’s resonating, according to new research showing young Americans’ growing interest in the contracts.

The rising interest in prenups comes at a time when Americans are getting married later in life, the student debt crisis is compounding, and younger generations are placing increased importance on financial transparency.

“I actually think it is one of the highest forms of love because after we have this prenup and get married, both of us will never be in a situation where we feel stuck,” Elise said of her and her fiancé's decision. “Both of us staying in the marriage means both of us are 100% choosing to be there.”

While there has been much discussion about whether Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce will have a prenup and what it might look like, Ally Bank’s head of Financial Wellness, Jack Howard, said the contracts aren’t just for the rich and famous. 

Even if people get married young with few assets to their names, she added, they’re likely to have more to split if they get divorced a decade or more later. 

“It’s unfair to say, just because we started out without having a lot, we’ll never have to address this issue. The goal is you’ll build together and hopefully, you have millions of dollars one day,” Howard said. “(A prenup) creates transparency and intimacy regardless of how much money you have at the moment.” 

What is a prenup?

Prenuptial agreements are legally binding documents intended to specify how assets, debts, and spousal support will be handled in the event of divorce or death, before a couple ties the knot. 

They’re particularly useful if one person is a business owner or expecting an inheritance, and if children are involved. 

Trust your partner that you two will figure it all out amicably if you ever split? 

“The person who shows up when you first get married versus the middle of a divorce, more than likely, are two different people,” Howard said. 

Elise emphasized that while marriage is an emotional, and for some, spiritual agreement, it is also a legal contract that varies by state.

“Do you want one that you created, or do you want to go into a legal contract that is literally a generic contract that the state chose for you?” Elise said. “Of course, I want that tailored to me.”

How common are prenups?

In 2023, an Axios-Harris Poll survey found that half of U.S. adults said they were open to signing a prenup, up 8% from the prior year.

Young couples appear most likely to get in on the trend, with 41% of Gen Z and 47% of millennial respondents who are engaged or have been married saying they had entered one, according to The Harris Poll.

A 2025 Ally Bank survey found more than 1 in 4 Gen Z couples signed a prenup and, at 30%, Gen Z is the most likely cohort to consider one before a wedding.

The survey also found that among Gen Z and millennials, men are more likely to believe having a prenup is important, with 35% saying so, compared to 27% of women.

How to get a prenup

The first step to getting a prenup is getting on the same page with your partner that you both want one, ideally early in an engagement, as the prenup process can take weeks to months. 

The agreement is not something to spring on your partner and shouldn’t be the first conversation a couple has about money, Howard and Elise said. 

“It genuinely has been the smoothest process,” Elise said. “So much of that comes from the fact that these are things we’ve always openly talked about.” 

Elise said she and her fiancé first outlined prenup terms they thought would be fair, then sought individual legal representation, and are now leaving negotiations to their lawyers, who will come to a compromise best for each of them. 

Hiring two lawyers to set up a prenup can cost couples thousands of dollars, but online services like Hello Prenup and Trusted Prenup, which offer them for around $600, are also growing in popularity. 

Jackie Combs, a divorce lawyer, said it’s great that such platforms are making prenups more accessible to people who can’t afford the traditional process. She added, however, “I would always recommend that anybody, prior to signing any legal agreement, should consult with an attorney.”

Reach Rachel Barber at[email protected] and follow her on X @rachelbarber_