“She began arguing with me about how it’s bullshit that we need a BFA — asking me if I love her, or don’t trust her,” Nick told The Feed.

“It made me nervous about a future together with her,” he said.

More young Austalians are requesting prenups

“We get a lot of younger adults who are entering relationships that might be brought up in a wealthy family, and the family is in their ear about protecting their assets or their future assets,” Gaetani said.

The Feed asked followers on Instagram if they’d request a BFA: 38 per cent of 209 votes said “Definitely”. Source: SBS

She said prenups can be signed before and after marriages, as well as in de facto relationships. In order for a relationship to be considered de facto, a pair must be living together for two years.

“If things turn pear-shaped, then there could be a lot of exposure, and a lot of family members are concerned about the wealth that they’ve built up from a lot of hard work and sacrifice being lost in a divorce,” Gale said.

Meanwhile, the ABC reported last month that enquiries for prenups at Australian Family Lawyers increased “from 153 in the first half of 2022 to 274 in the same period of 2023”.

What’s yours (isn’t) mine

Graeme said the topic “changed the dynamic” of the relationship, with the pair opting to keep their finances separate while opening a joint expenses account.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, there were 127,161 marriages registered in 2022 and 49,241 divorces. Source: Getty / amphotora

“My husband was — I would say — not excited about a BFA. At the same time, he kind of understood that if something was to happen I’d be left significantly financially worse.”

“It’s not romantic, but it kind of takes money off the table so it’s clear you’re marrying for love and not for money.”

Does a financial agreement hold up in court?

However, a BFA can be challenged if it was signed “under duress”, if there was an element of fraud, or if the BFA causes hardship to one of the parties, or a child.

There are roughly 50,000 divorces per year in Australia and 120,000 marriages, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

When financial agreements change the relationship dynamic

“BFA’s can impact the level of fairness, balance and power in a relationship,” Khuman said.

Thankfully, the couple worked through their differences, have stayed together and now have a child.

Some lawyers and psychologists say conversations revolving around finances can impact relationship dynamics. Source: Getty / Peter Dazeley

They’ve even updated their BFA with extra details that include real estate and provisions for their children.

*Names have been changed.