1. Regardless of which end of a prenup you're on, consult a lawyer as soon as possible.

2. When you're involved in negotiations for a prenup, disclose everything you own.

3. Prenups are best proposed soon after proposing. Don't wait until the wedding bells chime.

4. The property distribution proposed in a prenup shouldn't be so unbalanced as to be unconscionable.

5. Postnuptial agreements are typically signed after one member of the marriage strays, yet wants to remain in the marriage.

6. To collect alimony, you'll have to show, at the very least, that your spouse is making far more money than you and that you're presently not able to live in the style to which you've become accustomed during the marriage.

7. If your financial situation changes and these changes could be used to argue for a beneficial change in alimony payments, get into court quickly; it's difficult to get changes made retroactively.

8. Child support payments are determined by a strict formula set down by federal law, so it's fairly easy to calculate what you'll be paying if you're the noncustodial parent.

9. Child-support deadbeats can easily find a gaping hole in their paychecks, as wage garnishment is commonly upheld by courts.

10. If there's any doubt about paternity, men should consider taking a DNA test immediately. Assuming they're not the child's father, waiting could be costly, since it's difficult to recoup payments already made.