An interesting story recently appeared in an MSNBC article, which touches on the risks inherent in both marriage and divorce. When two people get married and pool their finances and resources together, they really take a chance on one another. In marriages that aren't accompanied by a prenuptial agreement, there is always the risk of losing things of great value.

That was the case for a British man, whose recent divorce separated him from an apartment into which he had put a significant amount of time, money and energy.

The man, a nightclub DJ, had apparently rebuilt the apartment to resemble a spaceship from Star Trek. The apartment, located in the English town of Hinckley, is owned by his estranged wife, from whom had been separated since 1994. He reportedly started the project in 1997, and it took him years to finish.

His wife's recent decision to sell the apartment is now forcing him to move. In order to redo a new apartment in the same theme, the man says, it would cost at least 100,000 British pounds-which currently exchanges for over $150,000.

There is no doubt that much can be lost when a relationship goes sour. Few people get married knowing they'll get divorced, and so there is sometimes an understandable tendency to ignore advice to form prenuptial agreements. Taking advantage of these tools, though, is a great way to protect one's assets from divorce.

In addition to prenuptial agreements, which must be properly executed to be valid, Michigan also permits postnuptial agreements. These are agreements a couple enters into after a marriage is contracted. Postnuptial agreements are judged on the standard rules governing all contracts, and so much be properly structured to be valid.

The idea of planning ahead for divorce before marriage is not the most comfortable thing to do, but it can save a lot of financial loss later on.

Source: msnbc.com, "Divorce forces man to beam out of 'Star Trek' home," Gael Gashingbauer Cooper, January 26, 2012.