When most people get married, they assume it’s for life – the “till death do you part” bit seems to help with the assumption. Even in this day and age, when materialism and practicality seems to surpass fairytale love, people have odd reactions when faced with a prenuptial agreement from their spouse-to-be. Many have been the cases when engagements were broken off before the wedding because on of the partners suggested a prenuptial agreement to avoid an ugly, messy divorce.

Prenups are quite common among star-couples. History has probably taught them that it’s better to be safe rather than sorry. One of the most media covered divorces was that of Paul McCartney and Heather Mills, who didn’t have the foresight to sign a prenuptial agreement.

The most recent divorce in showbiz is, of course, that of Madonna and guy Ritchie. Friends of the two have said that they were both advised to sign a prenup before getting married, but they both refused, apparently under – very romantic – impression that their marriage would last forever. Now that life has proven them wrong, rumor has it that Guy Ritchie wants substantial compensation, since Madonna brought home most of the family’s bacon.

Madonna has one of the best divorce lawyers in London, Fiona Shackleton, who has also handled the divorces of people like Prince Charles and the aforementioned Paul McCartney. The lawyer is certain both Madonna and Guy will want as little a media wave as possible about their divorce. She stated she doesn’t think anyone wants their divorce splattered across tabloid covers, as was the case with McCartney and Mills.

A messy and highly publicized divorce will also harm their three children – Rocco, who is 8, David, the boy adopted from Malawi and who is currently 3, and Madonna’s daughter with Carlos Leon, 12-year-old Lourdes. Even David’s biological father, although a poor farmer from Malawi, seems worried about his son’s fate amidst the divorce.