Jeff Bezos-Lauren Sanchez: Should Regular, Not-So-Rich Indian Couples Sign A Prenup?

News18

17-07-2025

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Jeff Bezos-Lauren Sanchez wedding: Can regular couples sign prenups? What can the terms be? Would it put non-earning spouse at a disadvantage? Is it legally valid in India?
Jeff Bezos-Lauren Sanchez wedding: As the details and pictures of the lavish celebrations of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to his fiancée Lauren Sánchez in Venice come out, there's also the buzz of a ' prenuptial agreement or prenup" around it.
The couple reportedly married in the US weeks before their lavish $10 million (approximately Rs 388-460 crore) wedding celebration in Venice on June 26, featuring a star-studded guest list.
While Bezos and Sanchez may or may not have chosen to sign a prenuptial agreement, it is a crucial document which details what each person will take away in terms of assets, debts and spousal support should the marriage end in divorce or death.
Bezos — the founder of Amazon whose net worth Forbes estimates to be north of $200 billion — has a lot of wealth to protect, should his second marriage go south. But chances are his assets and estate are already structured and professionally managed in a way that they would never become marital assets, two attorneys who specialise in prenups told CNN. The curiosity is only around the payout she would get if they divorced or he predeceases her, in case they signed a prenup.
But for everyone else wondering if they should get a prenup before saying 'I do," there are many factors to consider for both partners.
Do regular couples sign prenups?
For one, the stigma around prenups as a sign that at least one partner doesn't trust the incoming spouse or is worried the marriage wouldn't last has gone.
CNN, in a special piece on prenups, noted the changing trend. Illinois-based divorce and marital attorney Gail O'Connor, founder of O'Connor Family Law, told CNN she has seen a huge jump in couples seeking them out. 'Millennials want to be very financially independent. So there is this idea of people getting married later and thinking, 'I've worked hard for this and want to protect it,'" O'Connor said.
But the 'it" doesn't have to mean billions or even millions. It could just mean you've worked for a decade and built up savings, investments and stock options.
Or, conversely, she said she has seen a lot of couples where one person has a large debt load — for example, $100,000 or more in education loans. 'And their partner wants to be protected from that," O'Connor said.
Why do prenups matter and to whom?
Prenups are most critical where one partner owns a business. 'It's not about the actual level of wealth but what the assets are when a couple marries," Jacqueline Newman, managing partner of Berkman Bottger Newman & Schein in New York told CNN.
While a business may not be worth much at the time of wedding, it might grow greatly during the marriage, which also happened in case of Bezos during his first marriage to MacKenzie Scott.
Prenups also matter to:
What can regular couples include in a prenup?
Whatever you want.
Newman said a regular couple can opt for a prenup that:
Asserts that any assets or debt in one person's name goes with that person at the end of the marriage.
Any assets or debts in both partners' names are split.
A simple prenup might also just focus on a single asset and how it will be treated if the marriage dissolves.
Could address the issue of how one partner's debt is paid off during the marriage. For instance, if any jointly held marital assets are used to make one partner's debt payments, that partner may need to reimburse the joint account.
What would couples need to get a prenup?
Financial disclosures
O'Connor told CNN she asks her clients to give her proof of their assertions by way of their most recent tax returns, W2s, stock option grants, business valuations, and bank and brokerage statements. 'You don't want to build a contract subject to a successful attack. The more disclosure you have, the better," she said.
Prenups in India
prenuptial agreements to understand the intentions of the parties involved during divorce proceedings, particularly in cases where there is a dispute over financial matters.
While states like Goa recognise such contracts under the Portuguese Civil Code, the rest of India views marriage predominantly through the lens of personal laws.
The Hindu Marriage Act views marriage as a sacrament rather than a contract.
The nikahnama (a prenuptial agreement in Islamic law) is an exception, as it is recognised as a part of Muslim marriage and can be considered valid if it complies with Islamic law and doesn't contradict it.
Other options for Indian couples
Couples may explore other options like creating family trusts or trusts for each family member to manage assets and provide some level of financial security.
Some lawyers draft 'quasi-prenuptial" or 'postnuptial" agreements, which are not legally binding but can be used to record the couple's understanding on various financial and other matters, potentially influencing court decisions or preventing false claims.
According to the Indian Contract Act, 1872, a valid contract requires consideration, something of value exchanged between parties. As prenups typically involve no such exchange before marriage, they are often deemed unenforceable. However, there are exceptions where courts have upheld these agreements when they focus on property distribution rather than marital dissolution. It also helps in terms of alimony or maintenance discussion if the marriage is dissolved.
With CNN, Agencies Inputs
About the Author
Manjiri Joshi
At the news desk for 17 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing special copies ...Read More
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First Published:
June 27, 2025, 13:29 IST
News explainers Jeff Bezos-Lauren Sanchez: Should Regular, Not-So-Rich Indian Couples Sign A Prenup?
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