The presence of a prenuptial agreement in divorces seems to be a popular subject as of late. Celebrities such as Kobe Bryant have been in the news because he and his wife did not have a prenuptial agreement drawn up prior to getting married, so she is in a position to collect $75 million as part of their divorce.

It may be a lesson learned here that prenuptial agreements may be beneficial. Some people not only have one drawn up, but they also choose to include more creative conditions in the document.

In all Illinois marriages, couples can choose to have a prenuptial agreement setup prior to the wedding. This agreement serves as a contract that states how a couple's assets will be divided in the event of a divorce. This can include property division and spousal support, which is also known as alimony.

Prenuptial agreements are made at the discretion of the couple and can typically include any details they choose. NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders and his wife are reportedly getting a divorce and while the couple did have a prenuptial agreement in place, one of the more creative stipulations has drawn some attention.

According to reports, Sanders agreed in the prenuptial agreement to purchase a house for his wife, should they ever get divorced. More specifically, he agreed to buy a house that is equal to half the value of whatever house they currently live in at the time of divorce.

Sanders and his wife currently live in a house with a listing price of $21 million, meaning he could be contractually obligated to buy her a house for more than $10 million.

While this may seem like an outrageous amount of money, it could be much worse. Without the prenuptial agreement, Sanders may have had to split all assets equally with his wife.

Deciding on whether or not to have a prenuptial agreement can be difficult for Illinois couples who are planning on getting married. They may not want to discuss the possibility of divorce before they are even married. However, it can be a very helpful document that can protect everyone's assets. A legal expert can help couples draw up an agreement which will satisfy both parties.

Source: NESN, "Report: Deion Sanders May Have to Buy Ex-Wife a House Worth More Than $10 Million Following Divorce," Ricky Doyle, Dec. 20, 2011