Einstein’s prenup: … and holidays in Malibu**(?)

Previous View posts have looked at various cases where a binding financial agreement (BFA) has been held to be ineffective.

BFAs can be entered into at the start of a relationship (that is, a traditional ‘prenup’), at any time during the relationship (‘midnup’) or once the relationship has ended (‘postnup’).

While we see BFAs add value as prenups and postnups, perhaps understandingly we see few midnups successfully assist. Indeed we are aware of many situations where one spouse raising the idea of a midnup has been a catalyst for the ending of the relationship.

One of the highest profile examples of this is given by Albert Einstein.

According to biographer Walter Isaacson, as Einstein and his wife Mileva’s relationship deteriorated, they decided to try and stay together for the sake of their children.

Part of Einstein's approach involved him setting out a list of 'conditions' his wife needed to accept in writing (ie a form of early 20th century ‘midnup’), as follows:

A. You will make sure:

1. that my clothes and laundry are kept in good order;
2. that I will receive my three meals regularly in my room;
3. that my bedroom and study are kept neat, and especially that my desk is left for my use only.

B. You will renounce all personal relations with me insofar as they are not completely necessary for social reasons.

Specifically, you will forego:

1. my sitting at home with you;
2. my going out or travelling with you.

C. You will obey the following points in your relations with me:

1. you will not expect any intimacy from me, nor will you reproach me in any way;
2. you will stop talking to me if I request it;
3. you will leave my bedroom or study immediately without protest if I request it.

D. You will undertake not to belittle me in front of our children, either through words or behaviour.

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** For the trainspotters, the title of today's post is riffed from the Hole song ‘Malibu’.

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