Even though you love your husband or wife, the two of you come from drastically different backgrounds. When you were a child, your parents expected you to pitch in on household chores. This responsibility has accompanied you into adulthood. Your spouse, however, prefers to take a hands-off approach to household duties.
A recent study from the Harvard Business school reaches some alarming conclusions for couples who do not see eye-to-eye on household responsibilities. According to the study, disagreements over chores cause about 25% of all divorces, making these disagreements the third-leading reason marriages come to an end.
Fix the problem before it is too late
Because your perception of your marriage is not likely to improve on its own, you probably want to fix the problem before it is too late. While there may be a number of reasons for your spouse’s unwillingness to help you with chores, he or she simply may not realize there is an issue. If couples counseling does not do the trick, you may be looking for a more formal solution.
Use a postnuptial agreement to set expectations
You have probably heard of prenuptial agreements, which a couple signs before becoming husband and wife. While it happens after marriage, a postnuptial agreement can be beneficial. In addition to covering marital property, spousal support and child custody in the event of a divorce, your postnuptial agreement can outline which spouse is responsible for household duties.
Ultimately, by negotiating a postnuptial agreement, you have an opportunity both to set reasonable expectations and to create a legal framework for holding your spouse accountable.
