When people hear the words prenuptial agreement, many picture celebrity divorces, private jets, and lawyers billing by the minute. It sounds like something reserved for the ultra-wealthy, not everyday couples buying their first home together.

That assumption couldn’t be more wrong.

In Quebec, where common-law relationships are especially common, cohabitation agreements and marriage contracts are not about wealth. They’re about clarity, protection, and avoiding chaos if things don’t work out.

And statistically speaking, there’s a very real chance they won’t. Nearly half of all domestic partnerships in Quebec end in a split. That number includes divorces for married couples and separations of common-law spouses, whether or not children are involved. In many of these situations, there is shared property at the centre of the breakup, often a home.

Most couples assume that if things end, they’ll simply sell the property, split the proceeds, and move on. In theory, these issues sound manageable. In reality, timing is everything.

When a relationship is healthy and communication is still respectful, it’s far easier to talk through “what if” scenarios calmly and rationally. With a skilled professional like a notary or lawyer guiding the discussion, couples are more open to exploring options, weighing trade-offs, and reaching fair agreements without pressure. Decisions are made thoughtfully, not defensively, and solutions often come together faster than people expect.

But once a relationship has deteriorated, the dynamic changes entirely. Hurt feelings, fear, resentment, and uncertainty take over. Conversations that once felt reasonable now feel threatening. Every proposal is viewed with suspicion. Calm, rational problem-solving gives way to positional thinking, and practical questions quickly turn into legal and financial minefields.

That’s when even straightforward issues become painfully difficult to resolve.

What if one partner wants to sell and the other refuses?
What if one wants to buy the other out, but you can’t agree on market value?
What if one party refuses to leave the property altogether?
What happens to renovation costs, unequal down payments, or ongoing carrying expenses?

Without an agreement in place, these questions are often answered by lawyers, courts, and time. All three are expensive

.The irony is that the moment when it’s easiest to avoid those future costs is also the moment when spending extra money feels the hardest. Early in a relationship, or right after buying a first home together, most couples are financially stretched. Down payments, closing costs, welcome taxes, renovations, furniture, and higher monthly expenses leave very little room for anything that doesn’t feel urgent.

A cohabitation agreement or marriage contract can feel like just another bill at the worst possible time. And yes, there are legal fees involved. In most cases, it’s a few thousand dollars.

But that upfront cost exists precisely so the far greater costs of conflict never materialize. When expectations are set early, while both parties are aligned and cooperative, difficult questions can be resolved thoughtfully instead of under pressure. What feels inconvenient at the beginning often proves invaluable if circumstances change later on.

Trying to sort out terms after a relationship has deteriorated is like negotiating during a fire. Emotions override logic, communication breaks down, and every decision feels personal.

Having an agreement in place before there’s tension changes everything. It allows couples to calmly discuss “what if” scenarios while goodwill still exists. It creates a framework for decision-making that doesn’t depend on who’s angrier, louder, or more stubborn at the time of separation.

At Team Broady, we often see the downstream effects of separation. Listings delayed because one party won’t cooperate. Sales stalled over disputes about value. Buy-outs that fall apart because terms were never defined. Properties that should have been sold cleanly instead becoming emotional battlegrounds.

Almost all of these situations could have been softened, if not entirely avoided, with proper planning. Talking about a cohabitation agreement or prenup isn’t pessimistic. It’s pragmatic.

You insure your home even though you don’t expect it to burn down. You carry critical illness or disability insurance even though you don’t plan on getting sick or injured. This is no different. These agreements are not just for Hollywood celebrities or wealthy executives. They are for couples buying homes, building lives, and planning futures together.

Having the conversation early doesn’t mean you expect things to fail. It means you respect each other enough to plan responsibly, no matter what the future brings.

If you or someone close to you is thinking about buying a home, moving in together, or getting married, or simply wants to have the right conversations early on, we can help. We work closely with experienced notaries and lawyers who specialize in cohabitation agreements and marriage contracts, and we’re always happy to point people in the right direction. You can reach us at 514-613-2988, or by email at info@teambroady.ca.