Prenuptial and Postnuptial Agreements Protect Your Financial Future

No one wants to consider that their marriage might end in divorce or that their domestic partnership might dissolve. Unfortunately, it happens far too often. The best time to protect your financial interests is in the beginning, when you and your soon-to-be spouse or partner are excited and very much in love. Legal marriage contracts or marital contracts, including Prenuptial Agreements, Postnuptial Agreements and Cohabitation Agreements serve to protect your financial future.

Legal marriage contracts require each party to engage an attorney in order to ensure their validity. Both parties must sign the agreement voluntarily and without duress to be legally valid and enforceable. When you work with Warren Major LLP, our family law attorneys will help you ascertain your financial and personal goals, whether you are drawing up a Prenuptial Agreement before you marry or a Postnuptial Agreement after. We can also help you protect your assets with a Domestic Partnership Agreement.

Here are some things you need to know:

• A Prenuptial Agreement is intended to protect the assets you have prior to marriage. It’s a legal contract between a couple, which describes the distribution of assets and debts, spousal support, community contributions to separate property and other financial matters, in the event of a divorce.
• A Postnuptial Agreement is similar to a Prenuptial Agreement, but it’s created after the couple has married. It’s also a legal contract between a couple, which describes the distribution of assets and debts, spousal support, community contributions to separate property and other financial matters, in the event of a divorce.

• A Cohabitation Agreement defines the rights and responsibilities of unmarried people who are living together. Like a Prenuptial Agreement, it can strengthen a relationship by removing potential sources of conflict. Should the relationship end, a Cohabitation Agreement can protect the rights of one or both partners.

Silver Prenuptial Agreements

If you are marrying later in life, it’s particularly important to draw up a Prenuptial Agreement. You may own significant assets, such as a home, rental property or a business, and it’s a good idea to protect those assets should your marriage end in divorce. Whether you are at the height of your earning potential, or a few years away from retirement, you have few years to recover.

You may also have children from a prior marriage that you want to provide for. You may want to help them pay for college, buy a home, or set up a business. If you should die without a Prenuptial Agreement, your surviving spouse might have the right to claim a large portion of your pre-marriage property, leaving much less for the kids. It’s very hurtful and even devastating to a family whenever this happens.

The highly regarded family law attorneys at Warren Major LLP are ready to help you protect your financial interests, both before and after you marry.

Please contact us to discuss your Prenuptial Agreement and Postnuptial Agreement needs.