A prenuptial agreement can be made prior to the marriage of a couple. Before the couple is married, they can reach an agreement on the distribution of the marital property and assets, and even spousal support, in the event that the marriage does end in a divorce. A prenuptial agreement can help one to protect their assets and interests in the long run; however, they are not the final word. Some states and countries don't even recognize a prenuptial agreement as being legally binding. A prenuptial agreement can help in the event of a divorce and it can also help in the event of the death of one of the parties. A prenuptial agreement must always be in writing. Verbal agreements are definitely not allowed and will not be recognized by any court. In the U.S., prenuptial agreements are not allowed to regulate any aspect of a divorce that pertains to the children. This means you cannot determine custody, child support, visitations or the like. There are actually two types of prenuptial agreements: the marriage contract that is used for the couple who is married or about to be married, and the cohabitation agreement that is used for the couple who lives together but is not married.