The Golden Bachelorette star Joan Vassos has revealed her take on prenuptial agreements.
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Joan explained how she and her late husband, John Vassos -- who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2021 -- worked "really, really" hard to create a "nice life" and have financial security and freedom.
"It required a lot of work, a lot of hours, and John spent a lot of time away from the family and many, many hours at work. So we ended up being really financially secure, and so I wanted somebody that's in the same place as me," Joan noted.
"Let's face it: doing cool things in life often isn't free. It often costs money, and so I wanted a partner that has the same resources I have."
But Joan clarified of her pro prenup stance, "It's not because I don't think a marriage is going to last; it's not a statement about a marriage."
Joan went on to explain, "I will always, always, always be in a mode to protect my children, and I want my assets to go to my kids."
Joan pointed out how her children have "already lost their father" and gone through a lot.
"They've already had enough loss. I want to make sure that they have what's left of what I have, and so it's all about -- not a statement about marriage -- but about protecting my children," Joan said.
It's therefore likely that if Joan found true love on The Golden Bachelorette and left the show engaged, she'll sign a prenup before getting married for the second time.
Prenups in Bachelor Nation have become a hot topic, especially since The Golden Bachelor couple Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist's marriage only lasted three months.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOW: WHOM DID 'THE BACHELORETTE' STARS AND THEIR BACHELOR PICKS ULTIMATELY END UP WITH?! (PHOTOS)
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELORETTE' COUPLES NOWGerry and Theresa got engaged on The Golden Bachelor's finale, which aired in late November 2023 on ABC.
The pair decided to rush down the altar, and so they agreed to get married on a live televised special that aired January 4 on ABC.
Shortly after Gerry and Theresa publicly announced their split in an April interview on ABC Nightline, Gerry filed for divorce in Indiana and listed April 12 as the pair's date of separation.
Gerry cited an "irretrievable breakdown" of marriage as the cause of his split from Theresa, according to Us Weekly.
Theresa, however, confirmed on ABC Nightline that she and the retired fast-food restaurant owner had signed a prenuptial agreement.
"So many people wanted us to sign a prenup, and we do [have one]," Theresa, who has a successful career in finance, revealed with a big smile. "We thought it would be best for our families."
During their ABC Nightline interview, Gerry and Theresa revealed they had decided to part ways because neither one of them wanted to relocate and move away from family.
"The thing that strikes me the most, and in our conversations, is how dedicated both of us our to our families," Gerry said as Theresa nodded in agreement.
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Gerry is still living at his lake house in Indiana, which is about 45 minutes away from his ageing father, Everett Turner.
Theresa, meanwhile, has a home in New Jersey near several of her grandsons, and she is still working a full-time job in financial services.
When reflecting back on the demise of Gerry and Theresa's relationship, Jason asked Joan if she had second thoughts about becoming The Golden Bachelorette lead on "Trading Secrets."
"I didn't," Joan said.
"But I kind of look at why their relationship ended, and it was because of basically geography. I did witness them falling in love, and so I saw that the journey really worked and that Gerry and Theresa ended up in a really good place at the end of the season."
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' COUPLES NOW: WHO DID 'THE BACHELOR' STARS AND THEIR BACHELORETTE PICKS ACTUALLY END UP MARRYING? (PHOTOS)
But Joan pointed out how "no one could figure out how to move," and she has "a completely different view" on how to handle that issue.
"My opinion is: I am never moving -- or at least no time soon," Joan confirmed.
"I have multi-generational responsibilities, and I have a mom and a mother-in-law who are still alive. I have kids and I have grandchildren, and I don't want to leave them!... They are also the joy in my life."
Joan admitted she "does not want to be without them" or be "away" from them.
"I want to be able to see my grandchildren several times a week," Joan said.
"I also have a lot of friends and I've spent a lot of years building a really meaningful and rich life. And I want to be with somebody who has the exact same thing!"
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"I want somebody who has a really cool life and I don't have to live in the same town. Our lives could be running parallel. I can go visit him, and he can come visit me!" Joan explained.
"We can spend lots of time together but it doesn't have to require somebody giving up something so big -- their life that they spent a lot of time building."
Joan said, however, that "hopefully one day," she will be able to merge her life with her partner's and "live together full-time."
"But that shouldn't be a requirement at this age. There are just too many factors, and living in the same place is going to require somebody to give up too much," Joan concluded.
RELATED LINK: 'THE BACHELOR' FRANCHISE COUPLES NOW: WHO IS STILL TOGETHER?? (PHOTOS)
Click here to read spoilers about Joan's The Golden Bachelorette season and who finished as her Final 4 bachelors, Final 3 men, runner-up and winner.
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About The Author: Elizabeth Kwiatkowski
