It's estimated that four million Americans got engaged this past Valentine's Day. And while this was surely a very memorable day for most, this means that now is also the time that many of those engaged couples should start to think about creating prenuptial agreements.

Of course for many, creating a prenuptial agreement does not sound like the most romantic time, but in all reality, being open and honest about finances now can lead to less disagreement later on down the road.

Prenuptial agreements are also becoming more and more common. In fact, according to a Harris Interactive poll, almost one third of currently single Americans reported that if they were ever to get married, they would ask for a prenuptial agreement ahead of time. American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers also reported seeing a 73 percent increase in the number of prenuptial agreements signed between 2005 and 2010.

When looking at why there is an increase, some point to not only the high divorce rate, but also the shaky economy, which has put some people on edge when it comes to financial security.

Prenuptial agreements are also not just ideal for those couples marrying who have significant income differences or a large difference in age. These agreements are also recommended for those who are midway through their career, were previously married and/or have children from an earlier marriage.

Overall, a prenuptial agreement typically covers things like alimony, real estate, estate planning and the division of certain assets, like bank accounts. These agreements also need to be carefully and accurately created, and it is a good idea for each partner to have their own attorney to make sure that the final agreement is something that is fair to both people.

Source: Reuters, "When Valentines and prenups go together," Kathleen Kingsbury, Feb. 15, 2012