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Are you searching for help with a prenuptial agreement? Get online legal advice for a marriage prenup agreement before you walk down the aisle. For as little as $26.95/month, a LegalShield legal plan gets you access to a team of experienced lawyers, so you can create an agreement correctly and legally, and move on with your wedding ceremony and married life.
As unromantic as it may seem, prenuptial agreements can be an important and healthy part of a marriage.
A prenuptial agreement (also known as “prenup”), antenuptial agreement, or premarital agreement is a contract signed before two people are wed. This contract between partners can be used to outline alimony or spousal support, child support, personal property, and more in the event of divorce.
Similarly, a postnuptial agreement is a prenup that is signed after marriage.
These legal documents clearly state the division of property should the marriage end. Different states have their own divorce laws in regard to property rights.
Typically, assets acquired before marriage are non-marital or separate property and assets purchased during the marriage are marital property. Legal rights to these assets, like real estate, can vary depending on the state law and whether you live in a community property state.
If these things aren’t outlined prior to marriage or during the marriage, they have to be mediated or negotiated in the court of family law as part of the divorce process.
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, roughly 42% of marriages end in divorce. Discussing financial information before you get married can make things much easier in the event of a divorce.
Although uncomfortable, talking through sensitive financial issues related to the creation of a prenup agreement and confirming you’re on the same page as your future spouse can strengthen your relationship now.
Wealth: One partner earns substantially more money or is considerably wealthier than the other at the time of marriage.
Children: Children from a previous marriage raise potential custody, child support and visitation issues.
Assets: One partner owns a lucrative business or other valuable property that they want to protect.
Debt: One partner brings substantial debt to the marriage that the other would not want to be responsible for if they went through a divorce.
Even if neither party has kids or significantly different financial obligations or assets, discussing a few key issues now may help avoid headaches later.
The first step is to figure out if you need a prenuptial agreement. If you determine you want a prenuptial agreement, next seek independent legal advice to ensure the document is comprehensive and legally binding.
LegalShield is your partner in successfully navigating the sensitive and challenging legal issues raised by marriage.
If you’re not sure you need a prenuptial agreement or you’re not ready to engage with a lawyer to create a legally binding document, prepare yourself with these educational resources.
Ready to create a prenup? LegalShield offers legal plans that allow you to have a lawyer help you create a prenuptial agreement for a fraction of the normal fee. Our legal plans include a host of other valuable legal services.
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