Though no one gets married expecting to divorce, with many Washington marriages ending in divorce, the answer to the above question certainly may make economic sense.

Pre-nuptial agreements are certainly not a romantic topic, and maybe not even one that is palatable during the week of Valentine's Day, but neither is divorce. However, the basic fact is that when Washington couple's divorce they must realize that they will face a division of assets. Depending on their situation, without a validly executed pre-nuptial agreement in place, the financial outcome of a divorce may be very different from that which one might expect.

This is because without having agreed to the division of property beforehand, one spouse may end up financially responsible for the debts incurred by the other spouse. Or perhaps one spouse gave up his or her career in order to support the other spouse. In such a case, one might expect alimony payments in return, but alimony is not always guaranteed, unless it is spelled out in a pre-nuptial agreement.

If you are already married, and feel that maybe you should be protected in the case of divorce, it may still be possible to enter into what is called a post-nuptial agreement. Though such agreements may be more difficult to enforce, if both parties are represented by attorneys, and both make a bargained for exchange, such an agreement may hold up in court.

All of these issues can be discussed with an experienced and knowledgeable family law attorney who can assess your needs and determine what is most appropriate depending upon your individual circumstances.

Source: U.S. News, "Why Almost Everyone Needs a Prenup," Feb. 8, 2012