Valentine's Day was last week, which means there has been a surge in the number of engaged couples in California and the rest of the country. In fact, a survey by American Express estimated that as many as 4 million couples would get engaged over the holiday this year.

Many of these couples will soon begin planning their weddings, but one other thing they may want to consider is a prenuptial agreement, an article from Reuters explained. A prenup not only makes dividing up assets much easier in a divorce, but also forces the couple to talk realistically about finances.

Prenuptial agreements have been gaining popularity over the past few years, and not just among California's rich and famous. According to a 2010 poll by Harris Interactive, one third of single Americans said they'd ask their significant others for a prenup before tying the knot.

The reason prenups are becoming more popular among the general population may be attributed to a few things, the Reuters article explained. First, is that many people are getting married later in life. By this time, they have already established careers and made big purchases on their own.

Another possibility is that the poor economy has made people more protective of their assets. As one family law attorney put it, "[c]lients see prenups as vital to protecting what they've built."

Prenups are also common among people who have children from previous relationships, people who will receive large inheritances and people who have an interest in a family business or started a business of their own.

One thing to keep in mind about prenuptial agreements is that they must be executed properly to be considered valid. Talk to a family law attorney in your area for more information on the validity of prenups.

Source: Reuters, "When Valentines and prenups go together," Kathleen Kingsbury, Feb. 15, 2012