Prenuptial & Marital Agreements
A "prenuptial agreement" is a contract between two parties who intend to be married. Prenuptial agreements serve to control the rights and responsibilities of each party should the marriage end. These agreements are also referred to as "premarital agreements" or "prenups." Prenuptial agreements serve an important purpose: to protect the parties' investments and assets before, during, and after the marriage. A prenuptial agreement can reduce or eliminate spousal support, and control how property is divided, should the marriage end.
A prenuptial agreement is a critical tool that can protect the property that you bring into a marriage as well as the property that you earn or acquire during a marriage.
We participate in drafting agreements, as well as reviewing prenuptial agreements drafted by other attorneys. We can assist you and your future spouse in negotiating the terms of your property division in the event of the end of your marriage. If you are entering into a marriage and are considering negotiating a prenuptial agreement, contact the Law Offices of Robert A. Goodman to ensure that your rights are protected. We can assist you with any of the following matters:
- Prenuptial agreements
- Marital agreements
- Litigation of prenuptial agreements
A prenuptial agreement must meet several requirements before it will be considered valid under state law. These requirements include the following:
- There must be 7 days between the time when the prenuptial agreement is presented to the other party, and the date of marriage
- There must be complete disclosure of income and property by both parties
- The agreement cannot be signed under duress or coercion
If your spouse-to-be has presented you with an agreement, be sure to have an attorney review the contract so that your rights and obligations are clear.
Marital Agreements
A "Marital Agreement" is an agreement signed by the parties after they are legally married. Marital Agreements serve an important purpose: to protect parties' investments and assets before, during, and after the marriage. A Marital Agreement can reduce or eliminate spousal support, and control how property is divided in the same way that a prenuptial agreement does, should the marriage end.
Litigation
In addition to drafting prenuptial and marital agreements, we can also litigate agreements. If you are facing a divorce and need assistance with the enforcement or rejection of a prenuptial or marital agreement, our lawyers can aggressively pursue your rights in court.
