re: How does a basic prenuptial agreement work?

Frankly, if you and your $50k net worth at 25 asked me for a prenup (assuming she's about the same age), I'd tell,you to pound sand. i say this as a long married person who maintains separate bank accounts...but I can't imagine marrying someone at your age with so little who nevertheless feels the need to have a prenup. What if she gets a killer job, are you going to be comfortable when she gets some windfall (stock options, a big bonus, etc) and she squirrels it all away and won't spend a dime of it on the house since its in your name only? Either you're in it together, or you're not. I suggest living together for a while...see if you're on the same page financially, or what it will take to get you on the same page financially. You might be able to skip the prenup and starter marriage completely if things don't work out.

I know nothing about IL law, but in LA, you can opt out of a community property regime....this is a common enough arrangement with second or third marriages of older folks who have many assets and complicated financial circumstances (businesses, adult children with inheritance expectations, property jointly owned/inherited with siblings).