Having trouble in your marriage? This book is for you. Tom Gardiner, a Chicago lawyer, explains how post-nuptial agreements can address marital problems effectively. Unlike counseling that often is no more than a temporary fix, this book talks about agreements that will result in long-term change.

If your spouse drinks too much, for instance, you both agree in a legally binding document about the changes that need to occur—and the consequences if they don’t. There is another huge advantage to post-nups. If the behavior is not changed and divorce is triggered, the terms are set when the parties both seek to save the marriage—not when they’re going through an acrimonious break-up. These terms are usually reasonable and fair—who gets the kids and when, a fair amount of alimony for a fair term, division of the property—all because the spouses are seeking a solution at the time.

This book covers all of the human frailties that can cause problems in a marriage: financial problems, drinking, drug use, cheating, stepchildren, in-law problems, inheritance, religious issues, and so on. It is a book not just for couples but also for therapists, religious leaders, and others who seek to make marriages stronger and divorces civilized and fair.