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Yours, Mine And Ours Protect your business with a prenuptial agreement.

By Patricia Schiff Estess

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Would a prenuptial agreement have prevented a costly settlementin a recent divorce where the heir to a well-established familyenterprise put a large dent in the family's fortunes byagreeing to pay $23 million to his spouse, who was forced torelinquish her interests in the family concern?

No one can say, because Prince Charles and Princess Dianadidn't have a prenuptial agreement. But chances are if any ofQueen Elizabeth and Prince Philip's children remarry, they willbe urged to sign one.

Contentious divorces don't just upset empires; they can alsotopple long-established family businesses. That's why so manyheads of family businesses want their adult children to signprenuptial agreements.