A prenuptial agreement ("prenup" for short) is a written contract created by two people before they are married. A prenup typically lists all of the property each person owns (as well as any debts) and specifies what each person's property rights will be after the marriage.
You can write your own prenup for free, or for a nominal fee if you download a template from the internet. However, we recommend that you seek independent counsel for both parties to ensure the contract is what you had intended. Costs for hiring an attorney per hour can vary from $250 to $1,000.
The Agreement was Coerced or Signed Without Mental Capacity For a prenuptial agreement to be considered legally valid, it must be signed by both parties voluntarily , and both parties must be of a mental ability to understand the consequences of what they are signing.
Before signing a prenuptial agreement, both parties are obligated to disclose their finances. This includes all investments, real estate, property, and financial liabilities. Some states also consider future inheritances and require them to be included as part of the agreement.
28 days11. How long before a wedding should a prenup be signed? A prenuptial agreement should be signed at least 28 days before the marriage with all assets and property owned by both parties disclosed.
Saving and Spending Strategies – A prenuptial agreement should address the couple's future financial plans, including investment and retirement strategies. It should also cover how much income is to be paid into joint and/or separate bank accounts, and whether or not their will be any specific spending allowances.
Generally, the answer is that there is no expiration date. You'll need to show the prenup is invalid for reasons other than the length of the marriage. You'll need an experienced family lawyer who aggressively fights to protect your marital property interests and fights for alimony, child custody, and child support.
Asset protection trusts (APTs) offer an alternative for future spouses looking to protect their assets in the event of a divorce in the future. These can be set up without your spouse even knowing about it.
A prenup can't include personal preferences, such as who has what chores, where to spend the holidays, whose name to use, details about child rearing, or what relationship to have with certain relatives. Prenuptial agreements are designed to address financially based issues.
A fair prenup should respectfully safeguard and shield the assets of both parties. To achieve this, there must be a full and complete disclosure of all assets, debts, and liabilities when the contract is drafted. This includes all investments, real estate, and financial obligations.
When writing your prenup, you should discuss which of your assets will be separate or community property with your spouse. These terms can also be known as premarital and marital property in other jurisdictions. The court defines assets that a spouse acquires before marriage as separate property.
Experts agree a prenup can actually be a wise investment, not only because it outlines a couple's finances, but because it can thwart a costly and contentious divorce if the marriage doesn't work out.