Stage 1: Before the Wedding — The Prenuptial Agreement

The engagement is official. The wedding planning has started. And for some couples, this is also the time to have an honest conversation about money.

A prenuptial agreement, commonly called a prenup, is a written contract signed by two people before they get married. It outlines how property, assets, and debts will be handled during the marriage and if the marriage ever ends.

A lot of people assume prenups are only for the wealthy, but that is not true. A prenup can make sense for anyone who:

• Owns a business or has significant savings before the marriage

• Has children from a previous relationship and wants to protect what they leave behind for them

• Is carrying a lot of debt, like student loans, and does not want their future spouse to inherit that burden

• Simply wants both people to start the marriage with a clear financial understanding

Think of a prenup less as planning for failure and more as a game plan both people agree to before the journey begins. It creates transparency before the wedding, which can actually strengthen a relationship.

Where does a notary come in? 

In Florida, attorneys commonly have prenuptial agreements notarized at the time of signing. The notary verifies both parties' identities, watches the signing happen in person, and places their official seal on the document. This creates a clear record that both people signed willingly and knowingly.

Stage 2: Making It Official — The Marriage License

Once a couple is ready to get married, they need a marriage license before the ceremony can take place. This is the legal document that gives a couple permission to get married, and without it, the marriage is not legally recognized.

In Florida, both people apply for the marriage license together at the county clerk's office. There is a waiting period of three days after the license is issued before the ceremony can take place, unless the couple completes a premarital preparation course, which waives that waiting period.

After the ceremony, the officiant signs the license along with two witnesses, and it gets returned to the clerk's office to be recorded. Once recorded, the couple receives a certified marriage certificate, which is the official proof that the marriage legally happened.

The marriage license is the foundation of everything that comes next. 

It is what makes the marriage real in the eyes of the law, which is why it matters so much when it comes to future documents, benefits, name changes, and even the agreements described in this blog.

Where does a notary come in? 

While a notary does not issue a marriage license, notaries who are also ordained or registered can legally perform wedding ceremonies in Florida. And after the ceremony, any related legal documents connected to the marriage may require notarization down the road.

Stage 3: During the Marriage — The Postnuptial Agreement

The wedding is over. Life has moved on. And sometimes life brings changes that nobody saw coming before the wedding day.

A postnuptial agreement, or postnup, is essentially the same concept as a prenup but signed after the couple is already married. It covers a lot of the same territory, such as property, finances, and debt, but it is created to address things that happened or changed during the marriage.

Common reasons a married couple might consider a postnup:

• One spouse starts a business after the wedding and both want to be clear about who owns it

• A family member passes away and leaves behind a large inheritance that one spouse wants to keep as separate property

• The couple goes through a rough financial period and wants to document who is responsible for what going forward

• One spouse's income grows significantly and the couple wants to address how that wealth is treated

A postnup is not a sign that a marriage is in trouble. For many couples, it is simply a way to update their financial understanding as life evolves. Money situations change, and a postnup allows a couple to adjust their plan together.

Where does a notary come in? 

Just like with a prenup, postnuptial agreements in Florida are commonly signed before a notary public. The notary's role is the same: verify identities, witness the signatures, and provide official documentation that both parties signed voluntarily.

Stage 4: The End of a Marriage — Divorce or Dissolution

No one enters a marriage expecting it to end. But the reality is that some marriages do, and understanding what that process looks like can help people navigate it with less confusion and stress.

In Florida, ending a marriage is called a dissolution of marriage, though most people still call it divorce. There are two main paths:

• Uncontested dissolution is when both spouses agree on everything, including property division, debt responsibility, and if children are involved, custody and support arrangements. This path tends to be faster, less expensive, and far less stressful for everyone.

• Contested dissolution is when the spouses cannot agree on one or more issues and the court has to get involved to make decisions. This process can take much longer and cost significantly more.

When a couple has no prenup or postnup in place, the court has to sort through questions that could have been answered ahead of time, such as who keeps the house, who is responsible for which debts, whether either spouse receives alimony, and how retirement accounts are split. These questions can turn into lengthy and expensive disputes.

When a prenup or postnup exists, many of those questions already have answers. The couple made those decisions together, in advance, when no one was angry or hurt. That can make the end of a marriage significantly less painful to navigate.

Where does a notary come in? 

During the dissolution process, several documents may require notarization, including financial affidavits, settlement agreements, and other filings. A mobile notary can come to a home, law office, or wherever the signing needs to happen, which is especially helpful during a stressful time when convenience matters.

Putting It All Together

Here is the full picture of the marriage lifecycle and how documents connect at every stage:

At every stage, legal documents create clarity and protection. And at many of those stages, a notary public is there to help make sure the signatures are legitimate, the identities are verified, and the paperwork is done right.

A Note on Notarization vs. Legal Advice

It is worth saying clearly: a notary public is not an attorney and cannot give legal advice. A notary's job is to verify identities, witness signatures, and officially certify documents. If you have questions about what you are signing, whether a prenup or postnup is right for your situation, or how Florida's divorce laws might affect you, always speak with a licensed attorney.

That said, having a professional and experienced notary by your side during the signing process matters more than people often realize. It adds credibility to the document and provides protection for both parties.